The next generation Mazda BT-50 and Isuzu D-Max pickup trucks will be twins under the skin, with Mazda abandoning its long time partner Ford.
The current and previous generations of the Mazda BT-50 pick-up trucks, as well as the earlier global B-Series models, are based on the then current Ford Ranger.
This was due to Ford’s long term stake in Mazda, but since Alan Mullaly sold off a majority of that holding, the two one time partners have been going their separate ways, with the BT-50 and Ranger that shared vehicle between the two carmakers.
On July 11, Mazda announced that it had signed a “basic agreement on next-generation pick-up truck collaboration” with Isuzu. The next generation BT-50 will be produced by Isuzu, and sold around the world, except for North America.
Mazda currently sells some rebadged Isuzu trucks in the Japanese market. The current Isuzu D-Max is a based on the GMT 31XX platform used by the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon. It’s unclear if this relationship will continue.
