BT-50, D-Max okay for now as factory closes

Supply of the sister utes is considered strong enough to last the expected period when production of both is suspended, due to coronavirus.

MAZDA BT-50 is about to release here, following in tyre tracks of its Isuzu D-Max sister ship, which launched here in October.

 DISTRIBUTORS for the Isuzu D-Max and its Mazda BT-50 sister ship are confident they have enough stock here and en route to establish the utes in the market while the factory in Thailand making both is closed, potentially for at least three months.

However, the national sales operations for each brand have stopped short of commenting about the potential of supply of the technically-aligned models yet being affected at some juncture. 

All that is known for sure about the shutdown is that it has been caused by a third-party supplier being unable to get a vital component to Isuzu, which makes both vehicles, and that this will likely keep the plant closed until February, though that timeline is tentative.

Mazda New Zealand was today awaiting further information from head office in Japan.

At the moment, it has not been advised about whether the BT-50 is even directly impacted. It is on standby for any updates and says, for now, it’s business as usual.

Meantime, Isuzu Utes New Zealand has offered the following: “ Our understanding is there is a reduction in production due to the delay in component supply from Europe, and are therefore working with (the) factory to manage our future supply chain.” 

News of the situation comes as Mazda NZ is in the process of launching the BT-50 to dealers, with intent to publicly announce pricing and specifications when showing it to media on November 24.

A Mazda NZ spokesman expressed confidence today that even if there was to be an impact on New Zealand, it would not be felt immediately – or perhaps at all.

There is a big stockpile of vehicles in this country already because the model is of high priority “and we have forward ordered supply numbers accordingly.”

Isuzu Utes New Zealand, which released the D-Max in October, offered much the same thought.

“We have sufficient stock here in NZ with further arriving later this month, December and January,” said communications manager Kimberley Waters.

Isuzu Japan acknowledged the situation yesterday, saying had to ‘suspend’ assembly. Subsequent media reports say it stems back to a parts supplier in Europe being shut down due to Covid-19. Some outlets are suggesting the crucial item is an engine component from Germany.

The two utes were co-developed by Mazda and Isuzu and, though stylings and equipment levels appear to differ, they are identical in mechanical make-up; same 3.0-litre turbodiesel engine, same transmissions and a common platform.

Yet that doesn’t automatically mean Mazda is in the same pickle. Parts for the jointly-developed vehicles are sourced globally, so at this stage only the D-Max is absolutely known to be affected.

The D-Max line selected for New Zealand appears identical to that going to Australia, where Isuzu’s distributor has expectation of fall-out.

It has sent out statement regretting the vehicle’s production has been “temporarily put on hold” and explaining that this “unfortunate pause in vehicle production is related to one of our key component suppliers in Europe (producing unique components for our Australian-specification D-Max) has had to temporally close their manufacturing plant due to COVID-19.

“As a result we have had to suspend our D-MAX production in Thailand for up to three months, with a tentative recommencement of vehicle production of February 2021."

The models’ arrival and market impact in New Zealand is a big news story as the latest generation has been the first one-tonne utility to be accredited with a top-drawer five star safety score under a toughened test regime that independent scorer and national crash test agency, the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme, implemented in January. Other competitor utes with five star scores from ANCAP received these when the test was easier.

New-gen MU-X on D-Max trail

As expected the new MU-X has dramatically modernised.

THE next-generation Isuzu MU-X four-wheel-drive has been unveiled. 

As with the existing model sold here, the new vehicle shares the majority of its underpinnings with the latest D-Max one-tonne utility, which is about to go on sale in New Zealand and also comes from Thailand, where the MU-X is to be built. 

How long before we see it here? If the same timeline that applied to the ute continues for the wagon, then it could be arriving this time next year, or even later. There’s been a 12-month delay between the D-Max’s unveiling in Thailand and arrival here.

Isuzu has released limited information about the new MU-X and the national distributor could not be reached for comment.

It would seem a safe bet that the vehicle will benefit from many of the key improvements applied to the D-Max.

Also, in being derived from the new ute, the wagon will also be just as new from the ground up: The D-Max body, chassis and drivetrain have all altered significantly.

In saying that, it’s apparent the styling is not only far more modern, with LED headlamps arriving, but also far more removed from the D-Max look.

Whereas the current MU-X and outgoing D-Max were very clearly related, the new wagon seems to deliver its own appearance.

There’s every chance that the new MU-X will sharpen up considerably on safety features through adopting everything that now loads in the D-Max.

The ute has a centre airbag between the front seats as well as advanced technology such as radar cruise control, twin-camera autonomous emergency braking, blind zone warning, rear cross-traffic alert, speed sign recognition, and more.

Infotainment is expected to include a large 9-inch screen with Apple Car Play, Android Auto and a digital speed display in the instrument cluster. Top end models will likely have dual zone air-conditioning and rear air vents.

Drivetrain commonality is ticked. So that means a 3.0-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder generating 140kW and 450Nm paired with a choice of a six-speed auto or six-speed manual, in 2WD or 4WD on certain models.

A rear differential lock is also expected to be available on the 2021 Isuzu MU-X, as per the new Isuzu D-Max.

Media information provided from Thailand suggests the vehicle will deliver a more fulsome comfort level and specification.

The specification of the vehicle here runs to cooled front seats, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a household power socket inside the cabin, extra USB charging ports front and rear, premium audio, an electric park brake, and an adjustable electric tailgate.  

Exterior design touches include 20-inch wheels and LED tail-lights. Automated parking tech – which works with front and rear sensors and the new electric power steering system – is also likely to be available.

 MU-X has been a quiet achiever in the market, with 208 registrations last year and 169 so far in 2020, but it potentially has greater potential now that the Holden Trailblazer -  which was a co-development of Isuzu’s current model but more richly-appointed, better engineered and more powerful - is out of the market.

This time of course, the D-Max and Mazda BT-50 are strongly co-related, but there has been no indication of interest from Hiroshima about created a robust seven seater MU-X offshoot.

D-Max distributor in confident mood

If you’re a D-Max fan and wondering what justifies the incoming new line being so much pricier than before? Read on.

PAYING more will be worth it: That’s a local message that the D-Max’s distributor is confident it can get through to the model’s current followers. 

Technology enhancements and assertion from our national crash test agency that the new Isuzu is the “safety benchmark for the competitive ute segment” has emboldened Isuzu Utes New Zealand’s argument for why the model costs up to $10,000 more than its predecessor, depending on the model.

The cheapest incoming model, a rear-drive LX, starts at $49,990 while the flagship, called the X-Terrain, is entering the market for $75,490.

How well will the model’s traditional fanbase accept that, given they’ve accessed the line for considerably less until this changeover?

The old D-Max at full retail was positioned between $39,890 and $61,990, but an aggressive clearance over the last few months has delivered those editions for substantially reduced stickers.

The make’s sponsorship, events and public relations manager believes it won’t be too hard to convince the customer base why the rig has gone from budget placement to now siting directly against the highest-priced competitors in the class.

Kimberley Waters acknowledges D-Max’s five-star score from the Australasian New Car Assessment Programme, better known as ANCAP, announced two days after the pricing was made public adds more value to the ‘why buy’ argument. The score was achieved under the latest scoring regime, which effected just this year and has raised the bar considerably. 

“The … D-Max offers more in every aspect compared to its predecessor with the inclusion of a more powerful and efficient turbo-diesel engine, upmarket equipment and features, and new safety technology,” Waters says. 

“Gaining a five star safety rating from the hardest ANCAP test to date, making it the safest ute on the market, also reinforces Isuzu’s investment and commitment to providing its customers with the best safety tech. 

“Increasing the value to the customer has been a key driver behind the significant lift in the level of specification across the board,” she says.

So in respect to the price having jumped?

“The enhancements to the all-new D-Max has raised the bar … we believe our customers will see the value in what they are getting for their investment. We’re confident in the product and are already seeing some early positive signs with lots of enquiry by existing and new customers.

“We’re confident the all-new D-Max will be well received. It’s a game changer and a significant player in the ute market.”

The first phase of Isuzu Utes NZ’s marketing campaign has focussed on the vehicle arrival date and the ability to place a deposit now online to secure a unit.

Waters says this online ordering process is a New Zealand-first for the ute market. “We’ve been really pleased with the initial response.”

Once the ute is in dealerships next month “we’ll move onto the second phase of our marketing campaign which we are currently developing.”

In respect to that, we can expect to see the safety score being leveraged, she concurs.