The second feature in the Toyota Motor Corporation series is a look at the current and future models of subsidiary Daihatsu Motor. The Osaka-based firm in turn controls Perodua, a brand which has a 40 per cent share of the Malaysian market, sales for the first three quarters totalling 178,754 cars.
Perodua
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The Axia is Perodua’s second oldest model, and also its most recently updated car (September). This small five-door hatchback was revealed in Malaysia in August 2014. The A segment model is Daihatsu-based and built in what was a new Perodua plant (Rawang 2) located next to an existing one.
The Bezza, a sedan version of the Axia, was launched in the home market during July 2016. Both 1.0- and 1.3-litre petrol engines are available, while the platform is DNGA: Daihatsu New Generation Architecture. The next generation model is due for launch in 2022, a few months after the arrival of the Axia’s replacement.
October marked the tenth year of production for the Alza. This B segment hatchback is a version of the former Toyota Passo Sette/Daihatsu Boon Luminas twins. Production of these cars ceased during 2012 after only three years on sale in Japan. Perodua is expected to replace the Alza in 2020.
Perodua should launch a facelifted Myvi in 18 months’ time. Like the Alza, this model is in the B segment although having been launched in November 2017, it is some eight years younger. As per the previous Myvi, the current one is based closely on the Daihatsu Boon. A successor will likely appear in 2023.
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By GlobalDataThe brand was expanded at the start of this year with the addition of the Aruz, a 4,335mm long seven-seat crossover powered by a 1.5-litre petrol engine. This vehicle is closely based on the now two years old Toyota Rush and Daihatsu Terios twins. Perodua in fact supplies Toyota’s Malaysian market operations with the Rush, this being the first time that the firm has built any model for its owner’s major shareholder. All these vehicles have a ladder frame chassis construction.
The first of several facelifts for the Aruz should happen in late 2021, with the life cycle potentially lasting until 2027 or 2028.
Daihatsu
The fourth generation Tanto is again a five-door mini car. The latest model was announced in Japan in July. Both normally aspirated and turbocharged 660cc engines are available. The life cycle should last until the fourth quarter of 2024 after a facelift in late 2021 or the first quarter of 2022.
The Wake is a tall Kei-class mini-vehicle. It was launched in Japan in November 2014 and is based on the Deca Deca concept from the 2013 Tokyo motor show. A facelift was announced in May 2016. The Toyota Pixis Mega is a version of the Wake. Both should have successors in 2020.
The Thor and Thor Custom are more than half way through their life cycles. Both these 3.7m long MPVs were released for sale in Japan in November 2016. Daihatsu also manufactures three closely related models. There are two Toyotas, the Tank and Roomy; plus the Subaru Justy. All should have successors in two years’ time.
The Mira e:S is another model popular in Japan. The current car replaced one with the same name in 2017. It had been previewed by the D-base, a concept which had its world premiere at October 2015’s Tokyo motor show. The next news will be a facelift in 2020 with the successor due in 2023.
One further A segment model is the Boon. Unlike Daihatsu’s Kei cars, this one has a 1.0-litre engine. The current generation of this small hatchback went on sale in Japan in April 2016. Daihatsu also builds a closely related model for Toyota, the Passo. These were the first vehicles for DNGA, or Daihatsu New Global Architecture. As noted above, the Perodua Myvi is another car which is closely based on the Boon. The next generation model is due in 2022
The company has revived the Rocky name for a 3,995mm long SUV. Unlike the long ago Rocky, this one doesn’t have a ladder frame but rather it’s a monocoque offering front- and all-wheel drive. There is also a Toyota equivalent called Raize. Both are powered by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol turbo engine or a non-turbo 1.5 with four cylinders. So far, Japan is the sole market. The first deliveries took place in November, production having commenced earlier in the month at Daihatsu’s Shiga (Ryuo) plant. The first of two facelifts will likely take place in 2023, with a next generation model expected in 2028..
The supply of vehicles between Daihatsu and Toyota isn’t a one-way street. For many years, TMC has built small numbers of the Altis at its Tsusumi factory. The current generation dates to 2017. As with the previous one, the latest Altis is the Camry Hybrid with some minor exterior changes. There should be a mild restyle in 2020 and then a replacement in 2023.
Japan might be easily the largest market for the brand but Daihatsu has a significant presence in Indonesia. During the first three quarters of this year, deliveries numbered 150,518, enough to place the make in second position with an 18% share of the market, behind Toyota (275,374), which had 32%.
The Sigra is Daihatsu Indonesia’s best seller. This crossover, which was launched at the country’s national motor show in 2016, is more or less the same vehicle as the Toyota Calya. These models are 4,070 mm long, 1,655 mm wide and 1,600 mm tall. The vehicle’s chassis features MacPherson struts and disc brakes at the front, while the rear has a semi-independent torsion axle beam and drum brakes. There should be a facelift in 2020, and a replacement in 2023.
Reports for many other manufacturers’ future models are grouped in the OEM product strategy summaries section of just-auto.com.
Future product program intelligence
More detail on past, current and forthcoming models can be found in PLDB, the future vehicles database which is part of QUBE. That includes the Daihatsu models which were not discussed in the above report.
This was the second of three features in a series examining the current and future models of Toyota Motor Corporation’s passenger vehicle brands. The initial one looked at the Toyota brand, while Lexus will be the topic of the final report.
