Why is the MU-X not considered a joint venture vehicle?
4 Answers
MU-X is actually a joint venture vehicle, it is a mid-size SUV under Jiangxi Isuzu. The dimensions of the MU-X are 4830mm in length, 1860mm in width, and 1830mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2845mm. This vehicle is available in both five-seater and seven-seater versions. The MU-X is equipped with two engine options: 1. A 1.9-liter turbocharged engine: It delivers 166 horsepower and a maximum torque of 360 Nm. This engine reaches its maximum power at 3600 rpm and its peak torque between 2000 to 2500 rpm. It features direct fuel injection technology and uses an aluminum cylinder head with a cast iron cylinder block. Paired with this engine is a 6-speed automatic transmission. 2. A 3.0-liter turbocharged engine: It produces 177 horsepower and a maximum torque of 430 Nm. This engine achieves its maximum power at 3600 rpm and its peak torque between 2000 to 2200 rpm. Other specifications are identical to the 1.9-liter turbocharged engine.
As a long-time owner, I need to clarify the identity of the MU-X. Before 2018, it was indeed a joint venture product between Isuzu and JMC, but now it's wholly owned and operated by JMC. You'll notice new models only bear the 'JMC' badge without the 'ISUZU' logo, with decreasing proportions of imported parts - even the engine has been replaced by Jiangxi-made units. Essentially, it's a domestic vehicle trading on nostalgic branding, like living in an old colonial house with changed ownership. That said, the 2.0T powertrain and part-time 4WD system still retain Isuzu's technical foundations, though the core team largely withdrew after the brand licensing expired. Some off-road enthusiasts replace the badges with Isuzu logos for psychological comfort, but that's all it is.
From the perspective of automotive industry standards, joint venture vehicles have mandatory requirements: foreign ownership must not be less than 25%, sharing of global technology platforms, and adoption of foreign quality standards. The MU-X currently fails to meet all three criteria. After Jiangling Motors acquired all shares of Isuzu Japan in 2018, new vehicle development was independently completed at the Nanchang Research Institute, and the supplier system was localized. The most obvious evidence is checking the vehicle certificate, where the manufacturer is listed as 'Jiangling Motors Co., Ltd.' instead of 'Jiangling Isuzu.' In fact, there are many similar cases, just like the Baojun 510, which appears to be a joint venture on the surface but is actually a purely independent product of SAIC-GM-Wuling. However, the chassis tuning does inherit Isuzu's rugged DNA.
This is a classic case of brand licensing expiration. After Isuzu terminated technical cooperation in 2018, JMC acquired the naming rights for 'MU-X'. It's like a tenant buying the landlord's house but keeping the doorplate. Core components like the 1.9T diesel engine shifted from Kyoto factory imports to Jingdezhen production, while transfer cases changed from Thai procurement to Zhuzhou supply. However, JMC smartly retained Japanese off-road design language, even keeping the grille shape largely unchanged. Buying this vehicle as support for domestic hardcore SUVs makes sense - after all, there aren't many 200k RMB models offering three differential locks.
