Isuzu has consolidated some of its U.S. operations with the merger of American Isuzu Motors Inc., the U.S. distributor of the company’s sport/utility vehicles and diesel engines, and its parent, Isuzu Motors America Inc. The combined entity, to be called Isuzu Motors America, will be responsible for all SUV, powertrain, engineering, sales, and marketing operations. The merger, which took effect on April 1, seeks to create a leaner business structure by eliminating some redundancies, the company said. General Motors Isuzu Commercial Truck, the automaker’s commercial truck sales and support division, will continue as a separate entity. Kozo Sakaino will remain chairman and chief executive of Isuzu Motors America, as well as senior managing director for Isuzu Motors Ltd. of Japan. American Isuzu Motors’ president, Yusuyuki Sudo, will become Sakaino’s assistant, and Toshio Maeda, currently president of Isuzu Motors America Inc., will become vice chairman of the new company. J. Terry Maloney, who was executive vice president of Isuzu Motors America Inc., becomes president and chief operating officer of the new company, as well as executive vice president of its SUV division.