Isuzu Australia Limited (IAL) has confirmed that its new MY25 F Series truck range – the company’s first full update in 18 years – will exclusively feature Allison fully automatic transmissions across all 6-cylinder models.
The new F Series range is built for Australian conditions and meets the latest Euro VI emissions standards (ADR 80/04) while exceeding the current Australian safety requirements. Isuzu’s decision to pair the entire 6-cylinder lineup with Allison transmissions follows two decades of market evolution and strong customer demand for automatics in medium- and heavy-duty applications.
“It was a pretty easy decision when you look at the trends in transmission sales over the past two decades,” said Simon Humphries, Head of Product Management and CV Chief Engineer at IAL.
In 2003, manual gearboxes accounted for 97% of the market. Now, around 90% of medium- and heavy-duty trucks are delivered with either a fully automatic or automated manual transmission (AMT). Within Isuzu’s own 6-cylinder range, 97% are already being delivered with an Allison automatic.
Tailored for Australia’s Workhorse Segments
The new F Series range includes medium- and heavy-duty trucks in multiple configurations – 4×2, 6×2, 6×4, and 8×4 – and features Isuzu’s high-capacity FX and FY models. These are powered by the 9.8-litre 6UZ1 engine (259kW) and equipped with the Allison 4430 Gen 6 transmission, which supports engines up to 800hp and torque up to 3,200Nm.
Depending on the model and application, trucks in the F Series will be matched with the Allison 2000, 3000 or 4000 Series transmissions. These platforms have a strong reputation across industries such as waste, construction, distribution, and emergency services – key sectors for the F Series range.
“The dealers enjoy them because basically nothing goes wrong, and the fleet managers know these vehicles can handle both novice and experienced drivers alike,” said Humphries.
While some OEMs continue to offer AMTs in heavy-duty roles, Isuzu believes the Australian context still favours torque converter automatics for their ease of use, durability and superior performance under demanding conditions.
“Most of the comments we get from people coming directly out of these big trucks is that it’s just like driving a car,” Humphries added.
Strengthening a Long-Standing Partnership
The exclusive fitment of Allison transmissions in this range reflects a long-term collaboration between Isuzu and Allison engineers in Japan and Australia. The two companies have worked closely on product development, especially to ensure performance under the heavy-duty cycles common in Australian operations.
Robert Cavagnino, Allison Transmission’s Australian Sales Manager, noted:
“The teams from both Isuzu and Allison in Japan and Australia have continued to work closely for many years and we’re proud this collaboration has contributed to Isuzu’s ongoing success.”
This collaboration is helping Isuzu grow its position in the heavy-duty market. According to Truck Industry Council data, Isuzu increased its share of the heavy-duty truck segment to 14.5% in 2024 – despite not offering prime movers – driven largely by the success of its multi-axle rigid trucks equipped with Allison transmissions.
Three models from the new range were showcased at the 2025 Brisbane Truck Show. The FV and FX variants are arriving in dealerships this month, with other models expected to follow later in the year.
The new 6-cylinder F Series equipped with Allison automatics is expected to appeal to fleet operators seeking a durable, low-maintenance, and driver-friendly solution that aligns with Australia’s safety, emissions, and productivity goals.
