Isuzu Celebrating 30th Anniversary in U.S. Market With Restored First Truck

In honor of the 30th anniversary of Isuzu trucks in the U.S. market, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America this year is celebrating with a restoration of the very first Isuzu ever sold in this country.

by Staff

June 17, 2014

Isuzu Celebrating 30th Anniversary in U.S. Market With Restored First Truck — The first Isuzu to be sold in the U.S. was featured in the company's first issue of its magazine.

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The first Isuzu to be sold in the U.S. was featured in the company's first issue of its magazine.

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America this year is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Isuzu trucks in the U.S. market, and has restored the very first Isuzu ever sold in this country.

The KS22, the first Isuzu truck in America, arrived at the Port of Jacksonville, Fla., on November 10, 1984. It had no tilt cab and was powered by an 87-horsepower engine.

In 1986, Isuzu trucks became the best-selling low cab forward truck in the United States, a position held ever since. Today, Isuzu trucks command 80% of the U.S. low cab forward truck market.

The truck will be featured at Isuzu's dealer meeting in October.

Highlights of Isuzu Truck History

2013: Isuzu N-Series is named Medium-Duty Truck of the Year by Work Truck magazine

2010: Isuzu N-Series trucks are the first trucks in their class to be EPA 2010 and CARB HD-OBD compliant, and to be 50-state clean-idle certified.

2005: The 50,000th N/W-Series gasoline-powered truck is built in Janesville, Wisconsin.

2002: Cumulative sales of Isuzu trucks in the United States exceed 275,000 units.

The restored Isuzu will be higlighted at the dealer meeting.

1994: The first American-assembled gasoline-powered NPR-EFI is assembled in Janesville, Wis.

1986: R.L. Polk certifies Isuzu trucks as the best-selling import commercial truck in the United States.

1984: Isuzu trucks enter the U.S. market with the KS22.

1959: Isuzu Motors Limited introduces the world’s first 2-ton light-duty low cab forward truck, the first-generation of a line of vehicles now marketed in the United States as the N-Series.

1955: Isuzu diesel engines, diesel-powered snow tractors and other equipment are delivered to Japan’s Antarctic Observation Base. Isuzu equipment has been operational at the South Pole ever since.

1936: First air-cooled diesel engine built in Japan by Isuzu Motors Limited.

1919: First truck in Japan built by the predecessor of Isuzu Motors Limited.

Headquartered in Anaheim, California, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, Inc., is the distributor of Isuzu commercial vehicles in the United States. Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Inc. is a subsidiary of Isuzu Motors Limited. For more information, call (866) 441-9638 or visit www.isuzucv.com.

Topics:Isuzu Medium-Duty Trucks Company Anniversaries Cabovers Equipment