Isuzu D-Max V-Cross
Isuzu D-Max V-CrossPR handout

Isuzu Motors India (IMI), a subsidiary of Isuzu Motors, Japan, inaugurated its new manufacturing facility in Sri City, Andra Pradesh, on Wednesday, April 27. The Japanese manufacturer rolled out D-Max V-Cross pick-up from the new plant. It was first unveiled at Auto Expo in Delhi in February.

The manufacturing facility has been set up with an investment of Rs. 3,000 crore and it will provide employment to 3,000 people. The plant is spread across 107 acres and has a production capacity of 50,000 units, which can be increased up to 1,20,000 units. Isuzu had signed an MoU with the Andhra Pradesh government in 2013 for the Sri City plant.

IMI entered India with the MU-7 SUV and D-Max pick-up trucks in 2012. Both models were assembled at Hindustan Motors' Thiruvallur, Chennai, plant on contract agreement. The company will continue assembling the models in the Chennai plant, while Sri City plant will be dedicated for the manufacturing of D-Max V-Cross pickup and D-Max crew cab, a four-door pick-up with a cargo deck.

The D-Max V-Cross is based on the underpinnings of Chevrolet's Trailblazer SUV. The pick-up is currently available in markets like Europe, Australia, Thailand and South America, while India launch is slated in the second half of 2016. Powered by a 134bhp, BSIV compliant, 2.5-litre CRDi diesel engine, the powertrain is mated to a five-speed manual transmission that delivers 320Nm of torque at 1,800-2,800rpm.