Daihatsu to restart vehicle development after scandal
In 2023, Daihatsu said it had rigged safety tests for 88,000 small cars, most of them sold under the Toyota brand
24 April 2024 - 12:57
byAgency Staff
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Scandal-hit Toyota subsidiary Daihatsu aims to fully resume developing vehicles by as early as the end of 2024, the president of the compact carmaker told reporters, adding he saw opportunities in South America and Africa.
Why it is important?
Daihatsu said in 2023 that it had rigged safety tests for 88,000 small cars, most of them sold under the Toyota brand, with the scandal posing a reputational risk for Japan’s largest carmaker.
President Masahiro Inoue was dispatched from Toyota to turn Daihatsu around and put it on a path to growth. Resuming development of new cars will be a significant milestone.
Key quotes
“Once we have bedded down measures to prevent a recurrence [of the certification issue], we would like to move forward as early as the end of the year,” Inoue said about full development, adding minor changes to models could occur even earlier.
"Emerging markets are a perfect fit for us, like throwing a fast ball straight down the middle of the strike zone," he told reporters during an April 22 roundtable. His comments were embargoed for Wednesday.
“South America and Africa” are the markets that should be a focus for development over the next 10 years, he said.
Context
All but one of Daihatsu's models have been confirmed to be in compliance with domestic standards and those shipments have resumed.
• Inoue was previously Toyota’s head of Latin America.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
NEWS
Daihatsu to restart vehicle development after scandal
In 2023, Daihatsu said it had rigged safety tests for 88,000 small cars, most of them sold under the Toyota brand
Scandal-hit Toyota subsidiary Daihatsu aims to fully resume developing vehicles by as early as the end of 2024, the president of the compact carmaker told reporters, adding he saw opportunities in South America and Africa.
Why it is important?
Daihatsu said in 2023 that it had rigged safety tests for 88,000 small cars, most of them sold under the Toyota brand, with the scandal posing a reputational risk for Japan’s largest carmaker.
President Masahiro Inoue was dispatched from Toyota to turn Daihatsu around and put it on a path to growth. Resuming development of new cars will be a significant milestone.
Key quotes
“Once we have bedded down measures to prevent a recurrence [of the certification issue], we would like to move forward as early as the end of the year,” Inoue said about full development, adding minor changes to models could occur even earlier.
"Emerging markets are a perfect fit for us, like throwing a fast ball straight down the middle of the strike zone," he told reporters during an April 22 roundtable. His comments were embargoed for Wednesday.
“South America and Africa” are the markets that should be a focus for development over the next 10 years, he said.
Context
All but one of Daihatsu's models have been confirmed to be in compliance with domestic standards and those shipments have resumed.
• Inoue was previously Toyota’s head of Latin America.
Reuters
Heads of Toyota’s Daihatsu unit to quit after news of rigged safety tests
Toyota remains top-selling carmaker as chair apologises for scandals
Toyota SA CEO Andrew Kirby reflects on lessons of 2022 floods
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