WT recently traveled to Japan to get a first-hand look. By Mike Antich
Today’s global business environment for truck fleets is typified by cost reduction demands, coupled with increased corporate focus to implement green fleet and sustainability initiatives.
These challenges are at the heart of Isuzu’s product development strategy known as SEE Technology, which stands for Safety, Economy, and Environment. According to Isuzu, these three core areas are the basis of all its product development initiatives. Isuzu says its corporate goal is to build advanced technologies in each of these core areas to design products that combine safety and economy with a reduced environmental footprint.
To learn more about SEE Technology, Work Truck magazine recently traveled to Japan as a guest of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America. The three-day visit included participation in a fuel economy challenge at the company’s proving ground on the island of Hokkaido, a tour of the Fujisawa assembly plant for a briefing on the Isuzu Manufacturing Management quality control system, and a meeting with Isuzu President Susumu Hosoi and his senior management team at Isuzu’s corporate headquarters in Tokyo.
Safety Technology Initiatives Commercial vehicle hours of operation and driving distances differ significantly from those of passenger vehicles. Moreover, trucks are responsible for delivery even during poor weather conditions to maintain just-in-time distribution systems. If an accident occurs, there is a far greater danger of major damage due to the weight of the vehicle and its payload.
Isuzu President Susumu Hosoi (left) met with Work Truck Editor Mike Antich at the Isuzu corporate headquarters in Japan.
These factors, Isuzu says, require advanced safety measures to prevent accidents from occurring in the first place. Isuzu has focused on reducing driver fatigue and improving visibility and driver ergonomics. In the Japanese market, it equips the GIGA model, its heavy-duty truck, with cutting-edge View Assist Technology (VAT), which uses millimeter waves in an extremely high frequency range to monitor distances.
Another safety feature pioneered by Isuzu is a retarder system to assist with braking and Hill Start Aid (HSA) for easier starts on slopes. Additionally, an electronic immobilizer locking system is now standard, a class first, as Isuzu seeks to improve the security of trucks and cargo.
PLEASE NOTE POSTERS ***THERE ARE NO KNOWN CONTRACTS WITH ISUZU or the gov't of JAPAN***
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