Daihatsu is a Japanese automotive brand with a rich history and a philosophy reflected in the slogan “Make it compact”. The brand has become one of the leaders in the Japanese automotive industry, and its products are experiencing a real boom in the compact minivan class in the European and domestic markets. Daihatsu offers small and mini cars, minivans, SUVs, and trucks.
The history of the Japanese brand stretches from 1907 to the beginning of the 1919th century. Later in Japan, Hatsudoki Seizo Co. was founded by professors of Osaka University Yoshiknki and Turumi.
The 1930s were the beginning of mass production. The manufacturer’s first car was the motorcycle-like three-wheeled HA, with a 500 cc engine. Later, 4 more cars were produced, one of which was four-wheeled.
In 1951, the brand became Daihatsu Kogyo Co and completely switched to automobile production.
In 1957, sales of three-wheeled cars peaked. To prepare for the export of its products, the company’s management established the production of another model: the Midget. This model was popular at the time.
Since 1960, the company has been launching the Hi-Jet pickup truck. It had a two-stroke, two-cylinder, 356 cc engine. cm. The fuselage area was reduced to less than 1.1 square meters.
In 1961, the new Hi-Jet minibus was launched, followed by the New-line pickup in 1962. The latter was distinguished by its size, and featured a 797 cc water-cooled engine. The brand launched the new generation of this car in 1963. Three years later, production of the two-door Fellow car began.
In 1966, the Daihatsu Compagno machine was delivered to the UK for the first time.
Since 1967, the Daihatsu brand has been part of Toyota. In 1968, the next innovation was published – Fellow SS. A small car equipped with a 32-horsepower twin-carburetor engine. During the entire production period of compact cars, Honda No. It was the first competitive with 360.
The brand has launched a hard-top version of the Fellow car since 1971 and a four-door sedan version in 1972. Then, in 1974, it was renamed Daihatsu. The name of the brand was now Daihatsu Motor Company. And since 1975 it has produced a compact car Daihatsu Charmant.
In 1976, the manufacturer introduced the Cuore (Domino) car with a 2-cylinder engine and a volume of 547 cubic meters. At the same time, the company launched the Taft SUV, which became all-wheel drive. It was equipped with different engines: from a 1-liter gasoline engine to a 2.5-liter diesel engine. In 1977, a new car appeared – the DaihatsuCharade.
The brand has launched a commercial version of Cuore since 1980, first under the name Mira Cuore and then renamed Mira. In 1983, the turbo version of this car appeared.
1984 marked a turning point with the release of the Rocky SUV, which replaced Taft.
The assembly of Daihatsu cars began in China in 1985. The brand quickly gained popularity and by 1985, the number of units produced under the Daihatsu brand reached approximately 10 million. The Italian market received Charad cars, which began to be produced by Alfa Romeo. Small cars have become very popular in European countries and, accordingly, the sales level of Daihatsu products has increased.
In 1986, Charade began meeting in the Celestial Empire. The Leeza car, also seen in the turbo version, was produced. The latter can develop up to 50 horsepower and be a three-door.
Daihatsu launched two new cars in 1989: the Applause and the Feroza. Under an agreement with Korean brand Asia Motors, Daihatsu began producing the Sportrak in the 1990s. In 1990, Daihatsu launched the next generation Mira. Its feature was the joint installation of 4WS and 4WD systems. This was a first in the history of the automotive industry.
In 1992, Daihatsu Leeza replaced the Opti with a three-door and then released it in a five-door version. At the same time, Hijet assembly was started in Italy in a joint venture with Piaggio VE. The Charade Gtti car became the leader among representatives of the A-7 class in the Safari Rally.
The next model, presented by the manufacturer in 1995 in the country of the rising sun, was a small machine Move, the designers of which, together with Daihatsu, were specialists of the company IDEA. Slightly enlarged compared to the K-car. The small body is compensated here by the elongation of the car. In 1996 the Gran Move (Pyzar), Midget II and Opti Classic machines were created.
In 1990, the manufacturer celebrated its anniversary, the brand turned 90 years old. The brand has already produced 10 million units throughout its rich history. The series is completed with Mira Classic, Terios and Move Custom models.
By 1998 the brand had already produced 20 million units. In Frankfurt, the Terios Kid car with all-road capability was introduced. It is equipped with five places that make it a family. Then Siron appeared and the exterior of the new class Move car was created by designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. In 1990, even Atrai Wagon, Naked, Mira Gino cars joined.
Various automobile factories of the brand received ISO 90011 and ISO 14001 certificates. Production of new cars Atrai, YRV, Max continued.
Under the Toyota brand, the Japanese auto industry leader launched Terios. At the same time, the Japanese automaker was concerned about the environmental situation and managed to achieve minimal emissions of harmful substances. Since 2002, the Copen Roadster has been launched.
In showrooms in the capital city of Japan and Frankfurt, the brand presented the Micro-3L mini cars with removable top panels, the compact five-seater YRV and the EZ-U without front and rear overhangs with a maximum length of 3.4 m.
The next innovation in the series is the Kopen Micro Roadster. The car is a small copy of the Audi TT, equipped with lighting equipment from the New Beetle. And for off-road conditions, a compact SUV SP-4 with a sliding tailgate has been developed. The car itself is all-wheel drive.
History of the Daihatsu car brand
Today, Daihatsu sells cars in more than a hundred countries. The wide model range ensures high demand and a good level of application. This is facilitated by the rich experience and history of the Japanese brand in the automotive industry, which has become one of the leaders of the automotive industry in the production of small cars in demand in modern conditions.