Isuzu Motors has announced plans to build a new facility within its Fujisawa manufacturing complex for developing and testing components for electric vehicles (EVs).

The new facility, called Earth Lab, is part of Isuzu’s new JPY1trn (US$6.8bn) carbon neutrality and digital transformation drive announced last May. It is designed to strengthen the company’s ability to evaluate and test components such as batteries, electric motors and drive systems plus thermal management systems for battery and fuel cell powered vehicles with a focus on commercial vehicles.

Isuzu Group said it was committed to developing and selling zero emission vehicles across all commercial vehicle segments by 2030, including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

The company said in a statement: “As EV components differ significantly from those of internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, it is essential we are able to independently evaluate and develop components and systems for electric vehicles."

The new centre was scheduled to begin operations in June 2026 and expected to help Isuzu accelerate development of zero emission vehicles, particularly commercial vehicles.

The company said the facility would “help deepen its understanding of battery characteristics, allowing it to maximise battery management performance and optimise the functionality of combined EV components such as batteries, electric motors and the thermal management of the entire system, helping to improve vehicle driving range and performance”.