Isuzu Motors to establish EV development facility at Fujisawa Plant

Isuzu Motors Limited, headquartered in Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan, under the leadership of President and COO Shinsuke Minami, has announced plans to establish a cutting-edge electric vehicle (EV) development and testing facility within its Fujisawa plant. This initiative is a significant step towards achieving a full lineup of carbon-neutral (CN) compliant vehicles by 2030.

The new facility, set to commence operations in June 2026, will focus on testing and evaluating systems and components specifically designed for commercial electric vehicles. This includes the development of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), which are anticipated to play a crucial role in the future automotive landscape.

Commitment to carbon neutrality

Isuzu’s commitment to a carbon-neutral society is reflected in its goal to deploy electrified products across all commercial vehicle segments by 2030. The establishment of this facility is a key component of this strategy, enabling the company to independently evaluate and develop systems and components essential for the advancement of electric vehicles.

Advanced testing and evaluation

The facility will employ state-of-the-art equipment for testing components such as batteries, motors, EV systems, and thermal management. By gaining a deeper understanding of battery characteristics, Isuzu aims to optimise battery management performance. The facility will also enable the company to enhance the functionality of combined EV components and optimise the thermal management of the entire system.

In addition to BEVs, the facility will play a crucial role in the development of FCEV systems. Isuzu plans to conduct advanced energy management and thermal management optimisation at the system level, contributing to improvements in driving range and overall performance.

Part of a larger innovation investment

This development is part of Isuzu Group’s JPY1 trillion (USD7 billion) innovation investment announced earlier this year, aimed at driving carbon neutrality and logistics digital transformation initiatives. The establishment of the EV development and testing facility is a strategic move within this broader investment plan.Isuzu Group is dedicated to strengthening its development framework for CN-compliant vehicles. The new facility at the Fujisawa plant is a testament to the company’s commitment to facilitating the widespread adoption and advancement of electric vehicles.