Do we like them?

Do we like Isuzu?

Japanese maker of commercial trucks, diesel engines and the D-Max pickup, based in Yokohama.

Our score: 6 out of 10. A solid, long-standing truck maker with a credible push toward electric. The emissions class action in Australia and past testing probes stop it scoring higher. We'd back it cautiously.

Isuzu is a Japanese commercial-vehicle maker, run from Yokohama. It's best known for diesel engines, trucks and the D-Max pickup. It has been doing well in markets like Australia, where its global chief marked record sales in early 2024.

The big drama is in Australia. A Federal Court class action, backed by law firm Piper Alderman and funder Woodsford, alleges Isuzu sold vehicles between January 2016 and August 2024 with defeat devices that caused excessive NOx emissions. These are allegations, and we couldn't confirm where the case stands.

Japan's transport ministry has also looked at Isuzu's road-test procedures, and the company recalled 147 heavy-duty buses in 2019 over reversed NOx sensor wiring. I couldn't confirm the date or outcome of the road-test probe.

On the greener side, Isuzu's mid-term plan lists carbon-neutral solutions as a growth area, with carbon-neutral products in every category by 2030. It's also building an EV development and testing site at Fujisawa. So we're mildly positive but waiting to see it delivered.