Isuzu Reports Solid SUV Sales in December
7 January 2001
Isuzu Reports Solid SUV Sales in December Rodeo Up 8% - Best Ever December
CERRITOS, Calif., Jan. 5 American Isuzu Motors Inc.'s
(AIMI) SUV division, today reported an increase in core SUV sales for December
of 1.5 percent compared to the same period a year ago.
Rodeo, AIMI's most popular SUV, recorded its best sales month ever for the
current model with 6050 units sold for a month over month increase of eight
percent. Rodeo finishes the year with 59,568 units sold, a performance
surpassed only by last year's record-breaking 64,744 unit sales.
Trooper closed the year with an impressive calendar year increase over the
previous year of just over 11 percent. This represents total sales of
23,100 units, Trooper's best performance since '95, a testament to the
enduring quality and appeal of this classic SUV.
Sales of Rodeo Sport are running seven percent above last December's
performance of the Amigo, the model it replaces in 2001. When the unit sales
of Rodeo Sport and Amigo are combined for December these two-door compact SUVs
are up 20 percent and are up over 11 percent for the calendar year. This
performance indicates continued customer enthusiasm for the wide variety of
choice offered by these two models, the most powerful SUVs in their class.
Total sales for all AIMI SUV -- VehiCROSS, Trooper, Rodeo, Rodeo Sport,
Amigo, Hombre, and Oasis in calendar year 2000 came to 98,066 units.
"We're ending Y2K on a positive note," said Buck Trawick Vice President,
SUV sales, "with AIMI's core SUV product showing a month over month sales
increase in December. In retrospect, calendar year 2000 was very good for
AIMI. In spite of the fourth quarter's deteriorating market and extreme
pressure from an unprecedented increase in new SUV model introductions, we
remained competitive. Our top selling Rodeo and our luxury Trooper continue
to offer consumers value and technology leadership. We're confident that
2001 will be another good year and, with the introduction of the
2002 Isuzu Axiom, will see new customers considering Isuzu SUVs. Our
10 year/ 120,000 mile Powertrain Limited Warranty, fresh styling and technical
innovations such as our Intelligent Suspension Control and industry leading
Torque-On-Demand 4WD system, will continue to offer SUV buyers the best
performance value in the segment."
American Isuzu Motors Inc. is the U.S. distributor of Isuzu sport utility
vehicles and diesel engine. For more information call 800-662-2464 or point
your browser to http://www.isuzu.com on the worldwide web.
