Isuzu UK recorded a 17.95% increase in registrations of the Isuzu D-Max pick-up in 2022 compared to 2021 despite the challenging market conditions, supply restrictions and global shortages. The year also ended on a high, with December registrations increasing by 28.1% over December 2021.
The performance in 2022 by Isuzu UK and its strong, professional and dedicated dealer network is particularly impressive as the LCV and pick-up markets overall continued to be very tough. The pick-up segment was down 40.1% in December with 2,263 registrations and 2022 sales were down 30.4% overall at 29,564 registrations, according to the latest published figures from the SMMT.
Alan Able, Managing Director, Isuzu UK said “Given the global challenges we have all faced in 2022, I am very proud of the growth that we have collectively achieved. The customer demand for the Award-Winning Isuzu D-Max remains very strong and although we may not have been impacted as severely as some other manufacturers, we are still working tirelessly with the vehicle production facility in Thailand to meet our customer demand and keep them on the fastest route possible to a new D-Max.”
Fleet sales also increased in 2022 by 59.5% over 2021, with Isuzu UK’s dedicated Fleet Conversion Centre, based at the company’s import centre in Sheerness, playing a vital part in the growth. The specialist offering provides a unique one-stop-shop, which works in conjunction with Isuzu UK’s fleet sales, homologation & technical teams ensuring the build-to-order service provides customer-specific vehicles, whilst retaining the manufacturer warranty and ensuring the capability of the vehicle is not compromised in any way.
2022 was a successful year for the Isuzu brand in the UK, not only increasing sales year-on-year but also collecting multiple awards, expanding the range of D-Max offered in the UK, launching a new halo model and signing significant football-related partnerships with The Scottish Football Association and the Irish Football Association along with announcing the title sponsorship for the Isuzu FA Trophy and Isuzu FA Vase. May marked the tenth anniversary of the Isuzu D-Max going on sale in the UK and in December, the brand reached the 50,000 registration milestone in the UK with the Isuzu D-Max.
In April Isuzu UK launched six new variants of Isuzu D-Max, adding a rear differential lock to the Business Range along with automatic transmissions on models where this was previously unavailable. Further expanding the range in April, the new Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks AT35 halo model was launched and positioned at the top of the brand’s Adventure Range. In June, thirteen current dealers were appointed as authorised Isuzu Arctic Trucks outlets, enabling these selected sites to support the sales, servicing and requirements for the All-New Isuzu D-Max Arctic Trucks specialist vehicles.
The multi-award-winning Isuzu D-Max continued its commercial success, collecting the Fleet News Best Workhorse Award, along with the Trade Van Driver’s Best Workhorse Award for an unprecedented tenth year in a row. The year ended with the Isuzu D-Max being named What Van? Pick-up of the Year for 2023, making it the fifth time in the last six years that the D-Max has taken the title. 2023 also got off to a flying start with the brand being named Pick-up of the Year by Company Car & Van and Pick-up of the Year by 4×4 Magazine, which also awarded the Isuzu D-Max AT35 with the Best Individual Model Award.
