Mutual supply - In 1994, Isuzu and Nissan concluded a contract for the mutual supply of small trucks. The Isuzu Elf is a long-time leader in the 2 to 3-ton class, but for the low-share 1 to 1.5-ton class Isuzu purchases the Atlas from Nissan on an OEM basis and sells it with the name "Elf 100", For its part, Nissan relies on Isuzu for trucks in the 2-ton class and above, selling the Elf with the name of "Atlas 200". This basic framework is still in place, but with a new generation of products the situation has begun to show some changes. Isuzu launched the new model of the Elf last December. Nissan began receiving delivery in January, and in June its own new Atlas will be out. It is not yet clear what Nissan will supply Isuzu, but what is different is that the cargo/van version of the Atlas 2-ton standard cab is no longer a Isuzu product. According to Chief Product Specialist Kazuo Fujii in charge of Product Strategy and Planning Group at Nissan's LCV Business Unit, "This is a hot-selling item so we switched to our own product."
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