This year, Ukraine plans to start assembling ISUZU D-Max pickup trucks, which are desperately needed by the Defense Forces.

Oleksandr Dorosh, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ataman, announced this, Auto-Consulting reports.

This year, the company increased the production of buses and trucks due to the “School Bus” government program and the “5-7-9” affordable loans program.

According to Oleksandr Dorosh, in 2023, “Cherkasy Bus” produced almost 500 buses and 350 trucks.

Ataman buses that are manufactured on the Japanese Isuzu chassis in Cherkasy already have 67% localization, and trucks – more than 30%.

Thanks to the law on localization and government programs, the company managed to increase production by 20% this year and almost reach pre-war volumes.

Now there are plans to start assembling pickup trucks in Cherkasy, which are so much needed by the Defense Forces.

These would be Isuzu D-Max, which are already present in the Ukrainian market and which are already using power structures.

In 2021, the National Police of Ukraine received a batch of special vehicles based on ISUZU D-Max pickup trucks.

The conversion of the four-wheel drive vehicles into police cars was carried out by a specialized Ukrainian company. The vehicles are equipped with light and acoustic signals, a protective plastic coating for the cargo compartment, and a radio station in the cabin.

Under the hood, the “Japanese” truck has a 1.9-liter turbodiesel engine with 163 horsepower. High-profile tires, in combination with sufficient ground clearance, allow the pickup to overcome a 600 mm deep ford. The four-wheel-drive system can be activated at speeds up to 100 km/h.

In addition, Ukraine is testing the technology of special inserts that would allow military pickup trucks to move even with damaged wheels.