Daihatsu to electrify all new vehicles by 2030

The Yomiuri Shimbun

18:58 JST, December 21, 2021

Daihatsu Motor Co. said Monday that all of its new models for the domestic market will be electric vehicles (EV) or hybrids by 2030.

The company also said it plans to launch an electric mini-vehicle by 2025. Utilizing subsidies from central and local governments, Daihatsu aims to offer the vehicle at about ¥1 million in real terms. The plan suggests that moves to electrify mini-vehicles, which account for about 40% of Japan’s new car market, are also accelerating

“As carbon neutrality is being actively discussed, we will increase our EVs as much as possible,” Daihatsu President Soichiro Okudaira said Monday at a press conference in Tokyo.

Toyota Motor Corp., Daihatsu’s parent company, has announced its goal of achieving global sales of 3.5 million EVs in 2030. Daihatsu’s electric mini-vehicles are included in the 3.5 million, but Okudaira did not mention how many of them will be Daihatsu vehicles.

Daihatsu has been focusing on improving the fuel efficiency of gasoline-powered vehicles, but it launched a new hybrid vehicle in November, moving forward with the shift to electrify its vehicles.

Okudaira said, “People will not buy an electric mini-vehicle unless it is at the ¥1 million level, including subsidies.”

Daihatsu is expected to jointly procure batteries and other parts with Toyota to reduce costs.

Nissan Motor Co. and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. plan to launch a jointly developed electric mini-vehicle as early as fiscal 2022. Honda Motor Co. and Suzuki Motor Corp. also plan to launch an electric mini-vehicle between 2024 and 2025.