Isuzu North America has broken ground on a 1,000,000 sq.-ft. (304,800 sq.-mt) production facility in Piedmont, S.C., marking a US$280-million investment in the U.S. truck market. “This groundbreaking shows our deep commitment to serving North American customers,” Noboru Murakami, chairman and CEO of Isuzu North America said in a news release. “By building this plant, we are moving closer to our market, strengthening our ability to meet demand, and investing in long-term growth. The plant is expected to employ more than 700 workers by 2028 and will have the capacity to produce 50,000 units annually by 2030. Production is scheduled to begin in 2027.