The reduced price Daihatsu Despite the parent company, the brand won’t be returning to Australia any time soon Toyota is making some strategic changes to its brand range.
Daihatsu was one of five car brands under the Toyota Motor Group umbrella announced last month as part of a new strategy, with Daihatsu and Toyota behind GR, Lexus and Century.
At the Japan Mobility Show (JMS) 2025, the small car specialist presented, in addition to several commercial vehicles, the “K-Open” successor to its cute Copen convertible, which competes with the Mazda MX-5 and was sold here between 2002 and 2006.
However, there are no plans for Daihatsu to make a comeback in Australia.
“It’s not on our product roadmap, but is it an opportunity? Of course,” said Sean Hanley, vice president of sales and marketing at Toyota Australia Daily Sparkz when asked whether Daihatsu might come down under to fight cheap Chinese brands.
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“The beauty of being a global automotive company is that we have these options now. Now that this world is opening up, we can certainly look at this in the future.”
The Daihatsu brand was discontinued in Australia in 2005, with the last cars sold the following year, having operated in Australia since 1975.
Known for small, affordable models such as the Mira and Charade hatchbacks, the Copen sports car and the Rocky and Feroza SUVs, Toyota Australia took over distribution in 2000 before announcing its closure five years later.
Toyota has been a shareholder in Daihatsu since 1967, taking majority ownership in 1998 before fully taking over the brand in 2016.
Due to declining global importance, Daihatsu stopped selling cars in the United States in 1992, and despite surviving the global financial crisis, sales ceased in the United Kingdom in 2011 and in Europe in 2013.
Daihatsu focuses primarily on Japan and Southeast Asia and builds its models in right-hand drive.
GR Sport versions of the previous Copen sports car were even sold through Toyota dealers in Japan.
Asked whether the Daihatsu brand could give the wider group the opportunity to offer Australians vehicles at a lower price to counter cheaper Chinese models, Mr Hanely reiterated that no commitment had been made.
“There are no plans for Daihatsu to come to Australia,” Mr Hanley reiterated.
“The good news is that there are five great brands to consider in the global company. I think it’s a great place to work when you have that much flexibility.”
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