the not-so-little ute that can? - Stuff.co.nz
On the face of things that's a big call, because currently its D-Max ute lies in sixth position on the sales ladder behind the Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux, Holden Colorado, Nissan Navara and Mitsubishi Triton. But by the same token it's not an improbable aim, because Isuzu's fleet of 12 D-Max variants does cover all the ute market segments - single cab, space cab and double cab, four-wheel drive and two-wheel drive, and several levels of specification. And significantly, the fleet now includes a highly-specified two-wheel drive LS-T model that has just been introduced at the special request of Isuzu Utes New Zealand Ltd. Sales last year were 58 per cent up on the previous year, and so far this year D-Max sales have been up 42 per cent again. By the end of July Isuzu had sold 1048 utes for a 6. 49 per cent market share, passing Mazda which had sold 865 BT-50s for a 5. 36 per cent share. Meanwhile Mitsubishi had sold 312 more of its Tritons for an 8. 43 per cent share - which illustrates why Isuzu NZ believes it is now within striking distance of that model. The Isuzu has an incredible 37. 4 per cent market in Thailand, which is the biggest one-tonne ute market in the world and where just about every one of our utes are built. Source: www.stuff.co.nz
