Isuzu confirms electric ute plans: Could the D-Max go electric?

Isuzu Motors has confirmed an electric ute is coming and will initially launch in Europe.

At the launch of the facelifted D-Max in Thailand, the company’s president Shinsuke Minami told Auto Express [↗] it will produce a battery-electric pickup.

“Isuzu will first introduce it in Europe and then examine its gradual rollout by meeting the needs of each market, including Thailand,” Shinsuke said.

The current diesel-powered Isuzu D-Max ute is also made in Thailand.

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While details and timings are unclear, it should help the commercial vehicle-focused automaker meet increasingly strict emissions mandates, and the European Union and United Kingdom’s ban of new internal combustion engine vehicle sales from 2035 – with the former only allowing synthetic e-fuels.

Isuzu has been subject to criticism for lacking electric vehicle sales targets compared to other automakers, with only a 2050 net zero commitment.

It currently only sells two models, the D-Max ute and related MU-X large SUV. Both share their body-on-frame chassis with the Mazda BT-50 ute.

Since Isuzu tends to keep each platform generation selling for a longer time, an electric drivetrain could be fitted to the D-Max, as LDV managed with the eT60, as well as the promised Volkswagen Amarok EV and Toyota HiLux Revo concept but a new ground-up EV platform is also possible.

Australia represents a large market for Isuzu with the D-Max ute and MU-X SUV consistently in the top 20 best-selling new vehicle sales charts and directly rivals electric carmaker Tesla for offering two popular closely related models.