Reducing environmental impacts is one of the top priority issues for Isuzu Motors, whose major business consists of commercial vehicles and diesel engines. In recent years, the rise in crude oil prices was a trigger that highlighted the theme of "how to best utilize our resources" in countries all over the world - including developing nations. Global resources are limited. We cannot, however, think of leading more contented lives without using resources. Thus, effective utilization of resources is one of the most critical issues to all human beings.
Diesel engines are superior to gasoline engines in thermal efficiency and have 20 to 40 percent lower CO (carbon dioxide) emissions. Isuzu has managed to decrease fuel consumption by about 40% in the past decade through the continuous improvement of its engines and vehicles. We are thus actively contributing to the conservation of resources and the prevention of global warming.
Isuzu will keep doing our best to develop better diesel engines to provide fuel efficient commercial vehicles - we are sure this will help promote effective utilization of resources and contribute to the economic growth of both developing and developed countries.

As its corporate vision, Isuzu's determination to become a "Leading Global Company in commercial vehicles and diesel engines" is reflected in its mid-term business plan, The Leading Global Company, which means not only to establish competitiveness in business but also to be a leading company in contributing to the environment and society.
Diesel engines have many excellent advantages, but there is still much room for improvement in their performance and environmental aspects. A part of Isuzu's social responsibilities is to be a forerunner in the fields of commercial vehicles and diesel engines. We are striving to assume our mission as a pioneer in diesel engine engineering.
With this determination, we did not cut costs in research and development in the above areas, even when our financial condition deteriorated a few years ago. Such an effort resulted in excellent products such as the ELF CNG-MPI light-duty truck, the FORWARD, medium-duty truck, and the GIGA heavy-duty truck, all of which have complied with the new long-term emission standards. The "ELF HYBRID." the low-pollution truck, is another fruit of our state-of the art technology.

In order for us to be a Leading Global Company, it is also important for us to build a better relationship with all the stakeholders by responding to their expectations and making ourselves fully understood by them. Stakeholders, however, include a variety of people such as customers, suppliers, shareholders, employees, and residents in local communities. Therefore, their expectations of Isuzu are not always the same.
To be able to respond to the various demands of stakeholders and maintain a good relationship with them, Isuzu has to keep on growing by making appropriate profits as a company, because stable management is the very basis for us to comply with the demands of our stakeholders.
At the same time, each staff member must discipline himself/herself as a business citizen who is also a member of society. It is therefore important to promote compliance thoroughly within the company. I always say to staff members, "Never make profits in an anti-society manner." Every staff member must be aware of all aspects of compliance and assume their social responsibilities, in order to enhance our corporate value. This will lead us to becoming a true Leading Global Company.
I will continue to present Isuzu's strategy for further growth and assume accountability so as to make Isuzu fully accepted and appreciated by all stakeholders.

Isuzu is to release fully changed new-generation trucks to its customers. Currently, we are selling trucks in well over a hundred countries around the world, and overseas sales account for about 60% of our total sales. We have so far been doing business in overseas markets by manufacturing vehicles with overseas specifications that are based on the domestic vehicles. However, our next-generation trucks have been developed originally for global markets. I have declared that we will not release these trucks until they reach the level where all staff members involved in production, sales, servicing - as well as development - can be fully assured that the trucks will enjoy wide acceptance in markets around the world. Trucks that are full of surprises and that far exceed the level of expected improvement!  Also, I am sure these next-generation vehicles will even change Isuzu's culture of vehicle production.
Diesel-powered commercial vehicles made by Isuzu serve as a tool that people cannot do without in their lives, and they should be able to keep on running 24 hours-a-day, 365 days-a-year, whatever the climate and road conditions. Accordingly, sufficient consideration and measures are required with regards to environmental impact. I am confident that our next-generation products - incorporating big surprises in the environmental aspects - will be welcomed by all our customers.
As a Leading Global Company manufacturing commercial vehicles and diesel engines, Isuzu is committed to be a corporation that can make a long-term contribution to society by providing customers all over the world with products that are superior in every aspect, such as environmental and safety and, of course, in their performance.

Thirty kilometers west of Lisbon, Portugal. Looking at the hilltop Pena Palace from the archway of the Hotel Tivoli Palacio De Seteais (Palace of Seven Sighs) in the suburbs of Sintra, whose cultural scenery is registered as a World Heritage Site. I enjoyed the glorious views and keenly felt that we must preserve such nature and environment for future generations.