JEDDAH: Japanese truck maker Isuzu Motors Ltd said it would build an assembly factory in Saudi Arabia, eyeing economic growth in the Kingdom – the first Japanese automaker to have a production base in Saudi Arabia. Isuzu aims to start assembling a medium-duty “F-Series” truck by the end of 2012 at the plant, Isuzu said in an embargoed statement. Isuzu said annual production would start at about 600 units, eventually reaching 25,000. The factory will be expanded to include heavy-duty and light-duty models in the future, Isuzu said. The Japanese commercial vehicle manufacturer will export engines and other key components required at the assembly plant from Japan. Isuzu will be the first Japanese automaker to have a production base in Saudi Arabia. Like other Japanese automakers, the company has served the Middle East market through direct exports. The local assembly line will enable Isuzu to cater to the Middle East market in a more effective manner. The Japanese automaker is focusing more on international markets in order to fuel growth. The Middle East is an important market for Isuzu – it is estimated to have sold over 32,000 trucks there in 2010. In the severe climate of the vast desert regions of the Middle East, drivers have come to trust Isuzu pickups and light-duty trucks for their unrivalled reliability and long service life. Apart from the Middle East, the company is focusing on potential high-growth markets including China, India, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Isuzu vehicles are very popular in ASEAN nations, such as the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.
