Toyota Australia isn’t ruling out bringing back the small car specialist brand Daihatsu despite having no immediate plans to do so. The possibility arose after the parent company, Toyota Motor Group, recently restructured its brands, placing Daihatsu and Toyota below luxury labels Lexus and GR Sport, and the Century limousine.
While Toyota showcased several new Daihatsu models at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, including a Mazda MX-5 competitor called the ‘K-Open’, this doesn’t translate to an Australian return anytime soon. Sean Hanley, Toyota Australia’s Vice President of Sales and Marketing, acknowledged that Daihatsu’s comeback isn’t on their current product roadmap but hinted at potential in the future. “Of course, it’s an opportunity,” he stated.
The brand was previously sold in Australia from 1975 to 2006, known for its budget-friendly options like the Mira and Charade hatchbacks, the Copen sports car, and SUVs like the Rocky and Feroza. Toyota assumed distribution in 2000 before ceasing operations five years later.
Daihatsu has largely retreated from international markets. It exited the US in 1992, the UK in 2011, and Europe in 2013, focusing primarily on Japan and Southeast Asia where it builds right-hand drive vehicles. Notably, Toyota even sells GR Sport versions of the outgoing Copen through its Japanese dealerships.
Hanley suggested that Daihatsu could offer a lower price point to compete with increasingly popular budget Chinese brands. However, he emphasized that there are no concrete plans for its return, stating, “There are no plans for Daihatsu to come to Australia.” He further highlighted the advantages of Toyota’s diverse global brand portfolio, offering various options for Australian consumers.
This leaves open the question: could Daihatsu become a weapon in Toyota’s arsenal against budget Chinese brands seeking to carve out larger slices of the Australian market? Only time will tell if Toyota Australia decides to capitalize on this “opportunity.”
