Isuzu’s one-stop shop facilities for aftermarket fitments have been spotlighted in a two-day open day for the fleet industry that also showcased the D-Max pick-up’s capabilities.
Held as the brand pushes ahead with ambitious plans for growth in the fleet market – by 2025 its target is 3,000 vehicles a year – the event was run by UK importer International Motors at its import centre in Sheerness, Kent, and included current and potential new customers.
The event saw one group of attendees given a welcome presentation by Isuzu’s national fleet sales manager, Neil Scott and Isuzu UK managing director William Brown. They were then taken to the port for a tour by the import centre’s general manager Dean Faulkner where he explained how the vehicles arrive at the docks in a container after being manufactured in Thailand.
Attendees were also given an access all areas tour of the facility that displayed the stock of vehicles, purpose-built workshops, and the quality control team. They also saw how lights, beacons, speed limiters, tow bars, graphics and livery can be added to the pick-up.
Meanwhile the other group of attendees were able to tackle Isuzu’s muddy woodland off-road course in the D-Max, overseen by Isuzu’s off-roading racing champion Jason Sharpe.
Following launch, attendees saw various approved supplier stands, including CPL Limited which fits platform and tipper vehicles; Strong’s plastic bodies which builds plastic bodies on the back of the D-Max; Versalift which builds platform vehicles; Gearmate which supplies racking; Autostyling Truckman which supplies accessories and, lastly, Pedders which upgrades suspension.
Neil Scott commented: “This event was an opportunity to show off Isuzu’s in-house capabilities. Even current customers that have bought hundreds of vehicles from Isuzu learnt new things about the vehicles. We are proud of our import centre, but many fleet managers were unaware of exactly what we can do. Our aim is to minimise downtime, save costs and make life as easy as possible. Every product that is fitted to the vehicle has been signed off by the Isuzu technical director Phil Evans which means peace of mind and reliability.”
William Brown added: “You may be in the private or public sector, but one thing’s for sure: if you are responsible for running a fleet, you have a lot on your plate. Our Fleet Services team is here to provide you with just that: outstanding fleet services. No other pick-up manufacturer can match our facility in Sheerness, so Fleet Fest provided us with the ideal opportunity to open the doors and showcase exactly what we are capable of.”
