Isuzu D-Max, MU-X reach Australian sales milestone

Isuzu Ute Australia is celebrating a trio of milestones locally, headlined by the brand notching up more than 350,000 combined deliveries of its D-Max ute and MU-X SUV twins.

Last month’s new-car sales data was released a handful of weeks ago, but Isuzu’s number-crunchers have since discovered the brand has now eclipsed 250,000 D-Max sales and 100,000 MU-X deliveries since the vehicles made their debut.

The D-Max first came to Australia in October 2008, six years after it went on sale in Thailand.

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Australia had previously seen the D-Max, although it was badged as the Holden Rodeo here from 2003 until 2008, where it then became the Holden Colorado as Isuzu started selling its ute here under its own brand.

The MU-X’s Australian debut came later in 2013, about a year after Australia again had first seen it as the Holden Colorado 7 SUV. It replaced the MU-7 in Thailand, which hadn’t been offered in Australia under any badge.

History shows that both times it was Isuzu who won out despite the Holden nameplate being used on its own products.

From October 2008 to October 2024, Isuzu has sold 250,789 examples of the D-Max to local customers, and it’s set for a record year with 25,644 delivered since January – split across 5411 4x2s and 20,233 4x4s.

More than a decade on from the MU-X’s arrival, the Japanese brand is celebrating the delivery of 102,080 examples of its SUVs, while Holden closed its doors at the end of 2020.

Isuzu Ute Australia Managing Director, Junta Matsu, said the result is “testament to the continual evolution of our product which has earned a place with our valued customers.”

“From our humble beginnings in 2008 to becoming one of the most trusted and capable vehicle brands on the market, over 350,000 Isuzu D-Max and MU-X on Australian roads is proof of how far our vehicles have evolved over the years, earning a place in the lives of hundreds of thousands of Australians who rely on our vehicles every day.

“We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished this year, and with just two months remaining in 2024 we’re energised by the opportunities ahead.”

While Isuzu is celebrating its sales milestones, its vehicles still have catching up to do against their respective segment rivals.

The 25,644 D-Max deliveries in the first 10 months of 2024 are less than half that of the Ford Ranger – Australia’s best-selling vehicle overall – and also fall short of the 46,594 Toyota HiLuxes delivered in the same period.

Meanwhile, the MU-X is sitting on 15,584 deliveries so far this year, second in its segment to the Ford Everest (21,281 sales), however the arrival of the new 250 Series Toyota LandCruiser Prado threatens to surge past both models in the next few years.

As reported earlier this week, the latest facelift to the MU-X is expected in Australia next year, while both the SUV and D-Max ute have received a new entry-level turbo-diesel powertrain in Thailand which has yet to be confirmed for Australia.

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