Daihatsu tailors new cars to Malaysia and Indonesia

New production method helps cut development time and cost by 30%

20210616 Daihatsu 1

Daihatsu Motor released the Ativa, the Malaysian version of its Rocky compact SUV, in March.

RYOTARO SATO, Nikkei staff writer

OSAKA -- Daihatsu Motor is stepping up efforts to produce cars tailored to Southeast Asian nations, adopting its fast, low-cost production method developed in Japan to emerging markets, starting with Malaysia and Indonesia.

Emerging markets are important to the Japanese automaker, which acts as a vanguard for parent Toyota Motor. Daihatsu is also trying to ensure its survival by brushing up its flexible production technology before vehicle electrification takes hold in emerging countries.

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