Isuzu said the two companies, “Plan to accelerate joint development of Level 4 autonomous trucks based on a partnership strategy that spans five years."

Isuzu confirmed it is to use its ‘GATEX’ commercial vehicle information platform to provide uptime support of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and charging systems by transportation companies globally.

The company said the Thai plant would be used to supply markets across South-east Asia, Middle East as well as Latin America, replacing the existing C&E Series models.

The zero-emissions truck is produced under contract at the manufacturing facility of Spartan Motors Corporation* in Charlotte, Michigan, USA,

Japanese manufacturer Isuzu’s latest N-Series truck, the ‘NRR-EV’, will be assembled by Builtmore in Charlotte, Michigan and delivered to customers from this month onwards.

The two companies began their engine collaboration in 2019 when they signed the 'Isuzu Cummins Powertrain Partnership'.

The zero-emissions “Erga EV” was first unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show last October.

Jointly developed by the two companies, the engine will be integrated into Isuzu’s new medium-duty truck range. The engine is set to go into series production in Q4 2024, at Isuzu’s engine plant in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.

Isuzu announced it has agreed to invest USD30m in Gatik AI, the US-based autonomous driving technology company, to strengthen its autonomous logistics programme.

The brand’s locally assembled Euro V range now comprises the heavy-duty UD Quester and medium-duty UD Croner models.

Isuzu said its new PUV was developed to support the Philippine Department of Transportation’s PUV Modernization Programme (PUVMP), which aims to replace the ageing fleet of “jeepney” public transport vehicles across the Philippines.

The “Isuzu Transformation IX – Growth to 2030” mid-term business plan released in April is designed to transform the truck-maker into a commercial mobility solutions company by 2030 “to address challenges faced by customers and society through transport”.