Japanese automaker Isuzu Motors, which recently launched the D-Max range of pick-up trucks in India, plans to expand operations in the country to tap into the mounting domestic demand for pick-ups.

In 2013, for the first time, more pick-up trucks were sold than light commercial vehicles in India. Pick-ups are commercial vehicles of more than two tonnes gross weight and over 2 lakh units were sold in India against 1.8 lakh units of small commercial vehicles, the sub-two-tonne category.

The company now has nine outlets in India. By 2016, when its own factory will be ready in Sri City near Tada, Andhra Pradesh, it will have over 60 outlets, said Takashi Kikuchi, Managing Director.

At present, the company is using Hindustan Motor’s Chennai plant as a contract manufacturing unit. It makes about 300 pick-ups a month.

According to Shigeru Wakabayashi, Executive Vice-President, Isuzu Motors India, the pick-up market in India will multiply four times over the next 10 years.

After the company launching the D-Max trucks in Chennai, Wakabayashi said during 2011-13, pick-up sales nearly doubled to 27 per cent.

D-Max targets the captive users and the owner driver segment, which together represent more than half the buyers in this segment. The logistics service providers account for about 40 per cent of the sales.

D-Max is available in three variants and are priced between ₹6.19 lakh and ₹7.09 lakh.

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