Light-Truck Sales Expert Joins Isuzu Ute Australia

Isuzu Ute Australia is gearing up for action, bringing in a top-gun salesman as it sets out to reach sales of 30,000 units a year by 2020.

Isuzu Ute is the Brisbane-based national importer and distributor of the Isuzu D-Max range of 4x4 and 4x2 pickups as well as the Isuzu MU-X 7-seat SUV.

It has appointed Koichiro Yoshida to the board with responsibility for sales, marketing and public relations and the recently opened Sydney regional office.

He takes over from Yugo Kiyofuji, who continues as IUA deputy managing director and will focus on fleet sales and product planning.

IUA sales in March were up 24.4% to 2,580 units for a year-to-date total ahead 31.9% at 5,928.

Yoshida comes to Australia from Thailand and Europe, where he has been responsible for sales, marketing and aftersales. It is his knowledge and experience from working in Thailand, the world’s largest 1-ton pickup market, that has IUA excited, citing his deep understanding of the segment and of the Isuzu brand.

IUA Managing Director Hiro Kuramoto says Yoshida’s appointment as an additional director signals that Isuzu recognizes Australia as the most important export market in the world.

IUA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Japan’s largest trading and investment company, Mitsubishi, with which Isuzu Motors has extensive business arrangements.