Company overview
Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. is a Japanese automobile manufacturer headquartered in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture. Established as Hatsudoki Seizo Co., Ltd. in 1907, Daihatsu initially focused on steam engines for railway carriages before transitioning to diesel engines and then automobiles. The company began exporting in 1953, achieving significant sales in Europe by the 1980s. Daihatsu primarily produces kei cars and related small vehicles for the Japanese market, often supplied to global emerging markets under the Toyota brand. In 2016, Daihatsu became a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. Recent investigations have revealed safety-related issues with numerous vehicles, leading to production halts and a reevaluation of its operations. As of 2024, Daihatsu’s presence is primarily in Japan and Indonesia under the Daihatsu brand, and Malaysia under the Perodua brand.
