Truck drivers and enthusiasts familiar with Japanese vehicles will undoubtedly have a deep impression of the ISUZU brand. Founded in 1916, this Japanese automotive company has a 109-year history. Today, ISUZU manufactures commercial vehicles such as light trucks, heavy-duty trucks, and pickups, with profound expertise in the light truck sector—serving as a “mentor” to many domestic light truck brands with “Ling” (meaning “bell”, a common suffix in Chinese light truck names) in their titles. In 2019, ISUZU acquired UD Trucks (formerly Nissan Diesel) from the Volvo Group, further solidifying its layout in the commercial vehicle industry.
From October 30 to November 9, Japan’s largest mobility exhibition—the Japan Mobility Show—was held at the Tokyo International Exhibition Center. At this year’s show, the ISUZU Group participated with the theme “Dynamic World, Co-Creating a Vibrant Future”, showcasing a range of products under its ISUZU and UD brands. This article will take you through the highlights!
The highlight of the show was undoubtedly the newly facelifted ISUZU Giga heavy-duty truck. As ISUZU’s flagship heavy-duty truck model, it is known as “Juka” in the Chinese market. Since its launch in 1994, it has gained popularity in markets such as Japan and Hong Kong; Qingling Motors also introduced the second-generation Giga for domestic production in China. Strictly speaking, the facelifted model unveiled this time is a continuation of the second-generation Giga—it is not co-developed by ISUZU and UD like the third-generation Giga, which makes it quite interesting.
The second-generation ISUZU Giga was launched in 2015 and has undergone multiple optimizations and upgrades over the years, while retaining its classic exterior design. The new model showcased this time marks the first exterior facelift of the second-generation Giga in nearly a decade. It adopts the new design language first seen on ISUZU’s seventh-generation ELF light truck, with “THE ULTIMATE” as its design theme, emphasizing the powerful presence a flagship model should have. The new design combines modernity and dynamism, and features ISUZU’s signature “World Cross Flow” front-face design, highlighting distinct family styling cues.
The new ISUZU Giga still uses the classic 6UZ1 series engine, which differs from the Volvo-derived GH11 series engine used in the third-generation Giga. Although there is no innovation in power, the new Giga’s safety performance has been significantly enhanced. It is equipped with a wheel detachment warning system, PCB pedestrian predictive braking system (similar to side blind spot assist), and a lateral collision mitigation system (automatic centering based on the LKA lane-keeping assist system), providing additional safeguards for safe driving.
On-site, a three-axle low-bed cargo truck based on the new ISUZU Giga was also unveiled. This model features an optimized body structure that can accommodate larger cargo compartments with greater internal height, offering spacious cargo space and higher effective payload. It increases single-transport capacity, helping to improve logistics efficiency—and there is no similar model currently available in the Japanese market.
Based on the seventh-generation ELF light truck, ISUZU showcased a pure electric light-duty garbage truck at the show. Developed by ISUZU to contribute to a carbon-neutral society, this compact electric garbage truck is equipped with the company’s proprietary electric power take-off (ePTO) system. The ePTO system transmits power from the vehicle’s energy source (e.g., engine or battery) to auxiliary equipment. Unlike traditional PTO systems that divert engine power, the ePTO is equipped with an additional motor to output power by diverting electricity—making it one of the key core components for pure electric vehicles such as garbage trucks and concrete mixers.
Compared with traditional diesel vehicles, the ISUZU ELF pure electric garbage truck delivers identical performance. Additionally, it operates quietly and significantly reduces carbon dioxide emissions—leveraging the advantages of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to contribute to a cleaner urban environment. Depending on configuration, the ISUZU ELF EV pure electric model offers battery capacities of 44kWh, 66kWh, and 110kWh, with various chassis and upper-body configurations available.
ISUZU also brought its latest D-MAX pickup truck to the show. Targeting 1-ton workloads, this model is suitable not only for traditional commercial use but also for passenger needs, providing diverse solutions for various customer requirements. The new model’s exterior design aligns with ISUZU’s family styling seen on the Giga and ELF, featuring the same bold “World Cross Flow” signature look.
The ISUZU D-MAX is popular for its excellent durability and strong off-road performance, particularly in the Thai market. Since its launch in May 2002, it has sold approximately 5.3 million units in 120 countries and regions worldwide. The latest D-MAX has undergone a complete redesign of its exterior and interior; it will be launched in Thailand in October this year, followed by market availability.
At the show, ISUZU exhibited two ERGA city buses: an EV (pure electric) autonomous driving model and an FCV (hydrogen fuel cell) model. The ERGA city bus is Japan’s first fully flat-floor city bus. The autonomous driving model integrates multiple sensors such as cameras, lidar, and millimeter-wave radar, providing a comfortable and secure travel experience. The FCV hydrogen fuel cell model is equipped with Toyota’s hydrogen fuel cell system, with core components and hydrogen tanks compactly integrated into the roof structure—preserving the fully flat space inside the bus.
Does the headlight design of this model remind you a bit of the ISUZU ELF light truck?
At this year’s show, UD Trucks (a brand under the ISUZU Group) presented its 2026 Quester model. Known as “Kuten” in Chinese, this model was also once introduced by Dongfeng for domestic production in China. Despite over a decade having passed, the design of the UD Quester has remained largely unchanged—its “big mouth” exterior still leaves a strong impression.
According to official descriptions, the new Quester is “designed specifically for emerging markets”, meeting Euro VI emission standards. It is equipped with an 11-liter engine and a 12-speed ESCOT-E electronic-controlled AMT gearbox, which helps increase vehicle uptime, improve fuel efficiency, optimize total cost of ownership (TCO), and reduce environmental impact. Similarly, this powertrain still uses Volvo technology, making it quite familiar to many.
UD Trucks’ flagship model, the Quon, also made an appearance at the show. Meaning “eternal” in Japanese, this model has strong ties to the Chinese market—it was once produced domestically under the name “Youdishi” . The exhibited Quon is equipped with a GH13 diesel engine, delivering a maximum output of 530 horsepower and 2,601 Nm of torque, boasting strong power and excellent performance. It is also equipped with a 12-speed ESCOT-VII electronic-controlled AMT gearbox and UD’s active steering system, providing outstanding driving performance while effectively reducing driver fatigue—making it an ideal choice for heavy cargo transportation. Additionally, it features full-disc brakes and a hydraulic retarder system, ensuring stable and reliable braking.
The history of UD Trucks (formerly Nissan Diesel) dates back to 1935, when Kenzaburo Adachi founded Nihon Diesel Industry Co., Ltd.—the predecessor of UD. To date, UD has a 90-year history, and the exhibited Quon is a 90th-anniversary commemorative model. UD Trucks has a long-standing connection with Dongfeng; we will explore this history in more detail in future articles.
As one of Japan’s top commercial vehicle manufacturers, the ISUZU Group has always believed that transportation holds unlimited possibilities. With diverse mobility solutions rooted in technology and innovation, ISUZU continues to launch new products and lead the development of Japan’s commercial vehicle industry—evident from its exhibits at this year’s show. Thank you for reading this article! If you want to see more interesting and informative commercial vehicle content, don’t forget to follow us!
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