Isuzu Motors Limited

Isuzu Motor Co Ltd was founded in 1949. The predecessor of the company was Kyodo Kokusan Jodosha KK in Kawasaki. It used to produce trucks for the Imperial Japanese Army under the Isuzu name from 1933 to the end of World War II. The first bus model BX91 was produced in 1948. The truck production of this manufacturer seemed to be more prosperous than the bus production. The acquisition of interest of the General Motors Corporation also helped increase the variety of models and popularity around the world. Some of the trucks are marketed under the name of GMC and Bedford for the United States and Australia respectively. Integral buses are mostly marketed in Japan, and bus chassis are marketed for both domestic and international market.

Isuzu has gained a lion's share amongst the non-franchised bus operators in Hong Kong. Of the 4000 non-franchised buses which carry more than 29 passengers, Isuzu contributes to more than one-third. Over these 20 years, various bodies from Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and some other places are fitted to the large range of bus and truck chassis. Apart from the general uses like touring coaches and school buses, quite a number of them are specially designed for wheelchair access. The reliability of chassis and availability of parts have also driven operators to choose Isuzu.

New Lantao Bus is the only franchised operator which use Isuzu buses. The simple bus chassis have proven themselves more suitable and reliable for the demanding road conditions on Lantao Island than other models they tried, say Dennis Dart SLF, although Isuzu buses with leaf-spring suspension do not provide the same good riding quality as European buses with full air suspension. In recent years, the relatively cheap Chinese chassis and similar price Volvo and MAN chassis have nearly eaten up Isuzu market.

The J-Bus merger with Hino has rationalised models of Hino and Isuzu. For large coaches, the original Gala design was abandoned and Hino new Selega design was adopted. For city buses, Hino adopted Erga and Erga Mio from Isuzu.

Truck chassis

FRR (Hong Kong)

FSR (Hong Kong, Singapore)

FTR (Hong Kong, New Zealand, South Africa)

Bus chassis

ADG-RU1ESAJ (Japan)

BU04 (Japan)

CCM410 (Macau)

CRA580 (Japan)

JCR-ZZ Series (Hong Kong, Macau, New Zealand)

LT111 (New Zealand)

LT112 Series (Hong Kong, Singapore)