To further strengthen its U.S. sales operations, Isuzu Commercial Truck of America Inc. (ICTA) will directly distribute its low cab forward commercial trucks through its network of Isuzu dealers and through GM's network of Chevrolet and GMC medium duty dealers beginning August 1, 2007. According to Makoto Kawahara, president of ICTA, “While our joint venture with General Motors was successful in terms of sales growth and market share, our new distribution plan will allow us to better address new products and applications and better serve the needs of our dealers and customers." In 2001, the distribution of Isuzu-built commercial trucks was assigned to General Motors Corporation, and the sales and marketing for both Isuzu Commercial Trucks and General Motors Medium Duty Trucks has been managed through a joint venture company – General Motors Isuzu Commercial Truck, LLC. According to Kawahara, this re-organization is part of Isuzu’s worldwide strategy to focus its efforts on its core businesses of commercial trucks and diesel engines. The company plans to increase its sales outside of its Japanese domestic market to more than 300,000 truck sales in the coming years. Under this new distribution plan, ICTA will distribute its range of class 3-5 low cab forward trucks through its network of 200 Isuzu dealers and through approximately 350 GMC and Chevrolet medium duty dealers throughout the United States. ICTA will also distribute its class 5-7 F-Series cab-over trucks through its Isuzu network.