Isuzu North America Corporation has reaffirmed its collaboration with The Shyft Group. Expanding upon more than a decade of cooperation, the two companies will continue working together as Isuzu establishes its new assembly plant in Greenville County, South Carolina.
While Isuzu will be transitioning to in-house assembly, Isuzu and Shyft are advancing plans for new and expanded business initiatives in multiple areas. Shyft will continue to assemble Isuzu’s N-Series Gas, N-Series EV, and F-Series Diesel vehicles at its Charlotte, Michigan, campus during the multiyear production ramp-up period in Greenville.
“Shyft has been a trusted and highly capable collaborator for over a decade, and we are pleased to continue and expand our relationship as we grow our North American operations,” Noboru Murakami, president of Isuzu, said “Their experience and know-how will be invaluable as we ramp up our new facility, and we look forward to working together in new and exciting ways.”
Isuzu and Shyft are advancing plans to establish Shyft as a vehicle solutions provider supporting Isuzu’s North American operations. The companies are engaged in discussions for Shyft to develop a dedicated upfit and modification center near the Greenville plant that would support port-installed options, final vehicle modifications, and other upfit services for vehicles produced by Isuzu.
“We remain committed to a strong and productive relationship with Isuzu,” Jacob Farmer, president of fleet vehicles and specialty vehicles for The Shyft Group, said. “Our shared focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction will continue to drive mutual success.”
See also: Isuzu posts record truck sales for 2024
What is Isuzu planning for its upcoming facility in South Carolina?
Isuzu is creating a new production base to expand its vehicle supply capabilities to support the electrification of commercial vehicles in North America. The company purchased a 1 million-sq.-ft. facility on over 200 acres of land in Greenville County, South Carolina, that it will convert into an assembly plant.
“The establishment of an Isuzu-owned and operated production base in the United States reflects both Isuzu’s commitment to, and success in, the North American market,” Murakami said. “The plant will be optimally designed for our needs, streamline our processes, provide us with flexibility to react to changing market conditions, and position us for even greater growth in the North American market.”
Isuzu’s total investment in the plant (including land, building, tooling, and equipment) is expected to equal approximately $280 million. The plant will have a production capacity of 50,000 units by 2030 and will initially produce Isuzu N-Series Gas, N-Series Electric, and F-Series Diesel trucks. Initial assembly operations will begin in 2027 and will further expand in 2028, at which time the plant is expected to employ more than 700 people.
