News

Dealers celebrate 15 years in style on the Gold Coast

DEALERS AND GUESTS both local and international celebrated Isuzu UTE Australia’s 15-year anniversary at a glittering commemorative awards evening on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

“We chose the Cherry Blossom to signify our 15-year anniversary as it represents strength and renewal,” said Junta Matsui, Managing Director of Isuzu UTE Australia (IUA).

“Some of our Dealers have been with us since day one and without them we wouldn’t have delivered over 300,000 vehicles locally.”

Together, IUA and the Japanese and Thaibased VIPs recognised the 19 Dealers who had been with IUA since the start in 2008.

The night also included a farewell to retiring dealer principal John Cooper, of Sinclair Isuzu UTE, who had been with Isuzu UTE Australia for almost all of its decade and a half.

“As we celebrate these 15 years, I would like to personally thank you all—the staff, the dealership network and our partners—for your dedication and support,” said Matsui-san.

Isuzu UTE and the A-Leagues go into extra time

AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL HAS capped a period of unprecedented success by extending its successful partnership with Isuzu UTE Australia (IUA) for another two years.

IUA became the Official Automotive Partner of the A-League Men, Women, Youth and E-Sport Leagues in October 2021, as well as the Naming Rights Partner for the A-Leagues’ Men’s competition, known as the Isuzu UTE A-League.

That three-year association coincided with incredible growth for domestic football, including record-breaking viewership and attendances.

“Isuzu UTE Australia’s unwavering support has been instrumental in helping us reach new heights and engage with fans across the country,” said A-Leagues Commissioner Nick Garcia. Visit www.aleagues.com.au for more, or catch the 2023–24 season on 10 Bold and Paramount+.

D-MAX wins coveted Wheels 4x4 ute award

THEISUZUD-MAX has been crowned Australia’s ‘Best Value 4x4 Ute’ in Wheels’ inaugural Wheels Best Ute awards, a comprehensive appraisal of the largestselling vehicle segment in Australia.

It was a dominant result for Isuzu UTE, with the 1.9-litre and 3.0-litre turbodiesel powered variants of the popular D-MAX SX Crew Cab 4x4 Ute placing first and second respectively in the category.

With a 70-year reputation as Australia’s automotive bible, Wheels compared 12 of Australia’s best 4x4 utes for its legion of highly knowledgeable readers.

“Excellent resale, frugal fuel bills and the lowest insurance premiums of all our contenders are the secret to the D-MAX’s inherent value, with these low ownership costs helping to offset a higher-than-average purchase price,” wrote former Wheels magazine editor Alex Inwood.

Isuzu UTE delivers its 300,000th vehicle

COINCIDINGWITHTHEbrand’s 15th anniversary, Isuzu UTE Australia has celebrated another milestone, cracking the 300,000-vehicle mark in terms of local vehicle sales and deliveries. The landmark figure was achieved in October 2023.

With a total of 218,620 Isuzu D-MAXs and 84,181 MU-Xs delivered since October 2008, the month saw an aggregate of 302,801 IUA vehicles having taken to Australian roads—an impressive result, particularly for what remains a two-nameplate brand.

The monthly figure confirmed IUA’s standing as Australia’s 10th best-selling automotive brand for 2023 at the time of publication. It also charts a course for a second consecutive Top 10 finish in terms of annual domestic sales at year’s end.

“It’s fortuitous that we welcomed our 300,000th vehicle to an Australian home while celebrating our 15-year anniversary,” said IUA Managing Director Junta Matsui.

“As our brand has grown, so too has our Dealer network, which has expanded to over 165 sites across the country. With healthy levels of vehicle stock landing at Dealers, this year is shaping to be the biggest ever for our brand, and we are optimistic that this positive trajectory will continue as we aim for over 40,000 vehicle deliveries in 2023,” said Matsui-san.

Hook, Line and Sinker reels in the years

AUSTRALIA’SGREATESTTV fishing program, Hook, Line and Sinker, has reached a milestone decade of partnership with Isuzu UTE Australia.

Since joining the Isuzu UTE family in 2013, co-hosts Andrew Hart and Nick Duigan have racked up enviable kilometres in their HL&S D-MAXs and MU-Xs. That included towing a three-tonne Bar Crusher 780 HT boat on a 26,000km expedition around the coastline of Australia in their Isuzu D-MAX X-TERRAIN, countless trips to the Top End, and endless fly-fishing frolics into the Tasmanian interior.

“It’s our 10th year in partnership and Isuzu UTE and Bar Crusher have been with us every step of the way,” said Hart. Catch his memories of the decade on page 14.

Hart and Duigan—who added ‘The Honourable’ to his name when elected member for Windermere in the Tasmanian Legislative Council in 2021— are both based in the island state.

Now in its 23rd season, Hook, Line and Sinker shows on free-to-air on 7mate and is also available on demand via 7plus.