The predecessor of ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED planned to manufacture automobiles in 1916, and 2026 will mark its 110th anniversary. The article traces the company’s history and the iconic models it produced, including the 117 Coupé and Piazza.
First, the origins of ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED date back to 1916, while the corporate name of the present-day Isuzu Motors Limited was established in 1949. This article introduces part of the company’s history spanning more than 110 years.
It states that the company completed the Wolseley A9 in 1922, positioning it as Japan’s first domestically produced passenger car. It also discusses how the name Isuzu came to be used for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s standard-model automobile.
From the 1960s through the 1980s, the company developed and sold distinctive passenger cars such as the Bellett, 117 Coupé and Piazza. Using these models as examples, the article conveys the appeal of Isuzu passenger cars and the depth of the company’s history.
The article suggests that this history led to the company’s current position as a leader in commercial vehicles and that Isuzu’s history will continue.
The article is based on information available as of August 2026 and was first published in the 10 September 2026 issue of Best Car.