Aisin Seiki has revealed itself as the supplier of sliding electric doors for Toyota’s recently launched Porte and Spade Kei-class small cars.
Aisin Seiki says its system broadens the cars’ cabin space by incorporating a built-in driving unit in the sliding door. The assembly was made smaller and lighter by eliminating and consolidating components such as an opening and closing unit and half-shut prevention device inside the door itself.
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The second generation Porte and the near-identical Toyota Spade went on sale in Japan in July (they are retailed via different dealer networks). They each feature an electric slider on the passenger side and a conventionally hinged driver’s door. The passenger door can be opened and closed by a button on the dashboard or via the keyfob.
The first generation Toyota Porte launched back in 2004 featured electric doors on both sides, just like the Peugeot 1007 that was discontinued in 2009 after five years of disappointing sales.
There are two engines for the Porte and Spade: Toyota’s 1.3-litre (1NR-FE) or an improved 1.5-litre (1NZ-FE). A CVT is standard for all versions. Toyota stated at the time of the cars’ launch that it hoped to sell an average of 4,000 units a month of each in Japan.
While the first generation Porte was built at Daihatsu’s Kyoto plant, the new model, as well as the Spade, are made at what used to be Kanto Auto Works’ Higashi-Fuji plant in Shizuoka Prefecture. The shift was aimed at increasing the efficiency of the plant. Kanto Auto merged with two other Toyota group firms (Central Motor Company and Toyota Motor Tohoku Corporation) into Toyota Motor East Japan Inc. on 1 July. This was done as part of a plan for the development and production of compact vehicles.
Author: Glenn Brooks
