Isuzu Motors' Andhra Pradesh plant to start operation in next April

Isuzu Motors India is aiming to clock an annual sales of 10,000 units in the maiden year after its first plant in India at Sri City in Anfhra Pradesh commences commercial production in April 2016, deputy managing director of the Japanese auto-maker Shigeru Wakabayashi said today.

The company sold 1,300 units last year and is rapidly expanding its dealer network with plans to open 60 outlets by the end of 2015-16. Currently, Isuzu India is getting its light commercial vehicles assembled for the Indian market at the plant of Hindustan Motors Finance Corporation Ltd (HMFCL), a CK Birla group company, at Thiruvallur in Tamil Nadu under a manufacturing contract.

The company is setting up its Rs 3000-crore plant site in Sri City in Andhra Pradesh, with an initial capacity to manufacture 1,20,000 units per year. "We will start commercial production from April 2016, with an initial capacity of 1,20,000 units per year. Slowly over a period of time it will be ramped up to 2,00,000 units depending on market demand," Wakabayashi said.

Responding to a question on, its future plan about distribution of production between HMFCL factory and its new plant at Sri City after it commences operation, Wakabayashi said the company was yet to take a decision on that.