Isuzu Motors Ltd., Japan’s biggest maker of light-duty trucks, will assemble vehicles in Russia with Severstal-Avto beginning in August as the country’s demand for commercial vehicles rises.

The venture will have an annual capacity of 25,000 units, Tokyo-based Isuzu said Monday in a statement. Japanese trading company Sojitz Corp. is also a partner in the venture, it said.

Isuzu plans to more than triple truck sales in Russia to 8,000 vehicles this year, the company said. Economic growth in developing markets is boosting commercial vehicle sales as truck demand in Japan is forecast to decline, making Isuzu more reliant on overseas markets.

Severstal holds a 66 percent stake in the venture, Isuzu owns 29 percent and Sojitz has five percent, Isuzu said. The venture will make Isuzu’s Elf model light-duty truck, which can haul payloads of as much as three tons.

Moscow-based Severstal-Avto is Russia’s third-largest automaker and a subsidiary of Russia’s largest steelmaker. Isuzu sold 2,500 trucks in Russia last year.