GM sounds Isuzu out about capital tie-up.

TOKYO, April 29 Kyodo

General Motors Co. has approached Isuzu Motors Ltd. about entering talks on a capital tie-up to produce commercial vehicles for emerging economies, sources familiar with the matter said Sunday.

The U.S. automaker is expected to propose investment in the Japanese automaker to launch projects for commercial vehicles including trucks, mainly in emerging markets in Southeast Asia, where Isuzu commands a large market share, they said.

Isuzu plans to enter negotiations over the offer that General Motors made last year, the sources said. The U.S. automaker had been Isuzu's alliance partner for 35 years until 2006, when General Motors dissolved the partnership due to its financial crisis.

General Motors has tried to reinforce an alliance with Isuzu at a time when it is seeking to expand its global presence on the back of a rapid business recovery following its bankruptcy in 2009.

Isuzu, 5.9 percent owned by Japan's top automaker Toyota Motor Corp., is a leader in the manufacture of small trucks and pickups with high-quality diesel engines.

Isuzu and General Motors had jointly developed and manufactured pickups in their past alliance.