Isuzu North America Corporation has officially broken ground on a new 1,000,000-square-foot production facility in Piedmont, South Carolina, signaling a major expansion of its US manufacturing operations.
The October 1, 2025, ceremony brought together key dignitaries including South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Isuzu Motors Limited Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Masanori Katayama, and Japanese Ambassador to the US Shigeo Yamada. The event featured a ceremonial gift exchange, a symbolic turning of soil, and the planting of Yoshino cherry trees—symbolizing new beginnings and the enduring US-Japan partnership.
“This groundbreaking underscores our strong commitment to the North American market,” explained Noboru Murakami, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Isuzu North America Corporation. “With this new plant, we are getting closer to our customers and the market, strengthening our ability to serve them, and investing in the future. Our new facility will create jobs, contribute to the local economy, and provide a foundation for long-term growth and success.”
Governor McMaster praised the investment as a testament to South Carolina’s appeal to global manufacturers.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents more than the start of a construction project—it is a reflection of South Carolina’s reputation as a destination for world-class companies,” said McMaster. “Isuzu’s presence here will strengthen our economy, provide opportunities for our people, and further demonstrate the benefits of investing in our state.”
A Strategic Manufacturing Hub
Located on 200 acres in Greenville County, the new facility represents a $280 million investment and will serve as a production hub for Isuzu’s medium-duty truck lineup, including the N-Series Gas, N-Series Electric, and F-Series models. The plant is expected to reach a production capacity of 50,000 units annually by 2030 and employ more than 700 workers by 2028.
The Piedmont site will also consolidate Isuzu’s assembly and logistics operations, including KD (knowck-down) storage, parts management, vehicle production, and post-installation services. This integration is designed to improve operational efficiency and responsiveness to customer needs.
Production at the new facility is scheduled to begin in 2027, with the plant designed to support flexible manufacturing and evolving customer demands in the North American commercial vehicle market. The project is part of Isuzu’s broader U.S. strategy, which includes increased domestic sourcing and expanded R&D in advanced automotive technologies.
Isuzu has been the top-selling brand of low cab forward trucks in the US every year since 1986. Headquartered in Anaheim, California, Isuzu North America Corporation supplies commercial vehicles across the US and Canada and is a subsidiary of Isuzu Motors Limited, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Company information may be found at www.isuzucv.com/en/index.