Isuzu Philippines Corp. (IPC) has introduced two new offerings in its heavy-duty truck lineup - the CYZ and EXR - as it expects an increase in market share for the said category.

Category V trucks, or those weighing 15,000 kilograms, comprise less than 5% of Isuzu's total sales but takes up 20% of the total market for the said category, coming just behind MAN Automotive Concessionaires.

"We can increase our 20-percent share to about 50% or 60% with the two new trucks but that will come in next year. Hopefully we'll be No. 1," said Joseph Bautista, IPC assistant sales division head.

The Isuzu CYZ and the EXR weigh 30,000 kilograms and 45,000 kilograms, respectively. Buyers for the said trucks are usually companies involved in mining, oil and cement manufacturing.

All trucks being offered by IPC are imported from Japan. IPC Executive Vice President Takashi Tomita said the company already takes up 60% to 70% of the local market for combined light, medium and heavy-duty trucks. This year IPC expects sales to reach 3,000 units from 2,600 in 2013, or an increase of 15.3%.

Tomita pointed out that the price difference between second-hand and brand-new trucks has narrowed in the past years unlike a decade ago, when only 10% of the demand for trucks is for brand-new vehicles.

The share of brand-new trucks in the market has now increased to 17% to 19%.

Tomita added that even if the brand-new trucks are 30-percent costlier than the second-hand counterparts, maintenance services and financing plans are offered which, in the long run, will compensate for the difference in cost.