By PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC), the country’s all commercial vehicle assembler, expects a monthly sale of 100 units of its new model i-VAN.

IPC senior vice-president for sales Arthur Balmadrid told reporters at the Friday launch of the new Isuzu NHR i-VAN that the new model would cater to the growing shuttle services vehicle segment, now the third biggest vehicle segment after Asian Utility Vehicle and Sports Utility Vehicle segments. .

The 16-18 passenger van is being sold for P1.264 million.

Balmadrid cited its new model i-VAN, which is mounted over the Isuzu NHR truck body, for having as much as 60 percent local content. Truck body builder Centro Manufacturing Corp. (CMC) provides for the body of i-VAN.

The body alone already comprised 50 percent of the total vehicle, although some parts are imported from Indonesia.

According to Balmadrid, the company is subsidizing the assembly of the i-VAN for it to be price competitive with other vans that are being used as shuttle services. Aside from passenger vans, the vehicle can be used as cargo van, school bus, and ambulance, among others.

Unlike the existing shuttle vans, Balmadrid said the i-VAN is being built to sit as many as 18 full-sized adults comfortably.

It is powered by the proven 2.8-liter 4JB1-TC with intercooler diesel engine, the NHR commands 91 ps power and 20.0 kg-m of torque, thanks in part to Isuzu’s tried and tested direct-injection technology. A smooth five-speed manual transmission with overdrive complements the fuel-efficient 4JB1. In the 2010 Isuzu Challenge edition, the NHR yielded an impressive 12.965 kilometers for every liter under normal driving conditions. It is also Euro 2 compliant.

The Isuzu NHR already boasts 3-point emergency locking retractor seat belt; fuel lid with key lock; highly rigid frame; 2-jet nozzle with intermittent wiper; 90-degree door opening for easy ingress and egress; anti-slip aluminum step; power steering and tilting; all-around visibility, laminated green wind shield glass; and, large side view mirrors. Ride is made more passenger-friendly with the improved flex-ride suspension to swing the ride balance toward comfort.

Inside, its individual fabric-covered seats with assist grips and pockets have thick cushions. This is unlike the vinyl-covered, center-facing bench seats found in most shuttle vans. A factory-installed airconditioning system extends up to the rear, equally distributing cool air to the entire passenger cabin. Music is delivered by a four-speaker AM/FM stereo system with an in-dash CD player.

The Isuzu NHR w/ i-VAN body option maintains the same NHR gross vehicle weight of 3.8 tons. Over-all length is 5,025 mm and over-all height is 2,092 mm-still class 1 on major tollways.

Meantime, Balmadrid said the company expects a flat growth this year after it suffered a 20 percent decline in sales in the first half of the year due to supply problem following the Japan disasters.

The company has even revised its sales target from 12,000 to 11,000 or 20 percent down to end the year or just to match the 2010 sales performance.

Balmadrid said they only sold 600 units last May because they closed for two weeks in each month of May and April due to shortage in supply of parts from Japan. Before the Japan crisis, IPC has been averaging monthly sales of 800 to 900 units of locally assembled models except for the Alterra model, which is imported as completely built-up packs from Thailand.

“But we are recovering and we expect a recovery by the second semester this year so we expect a flat growth this year,” he said.

They are already at 80 percent full operation this month and full operation by next month, August. The Isuzu Laguna plant has full production capacity of 12,000-15,000 units as against current production of 10,000 units.