Toyota takes over ASEAN auto development after Daihatsu safety scandal – will Perodua be affected?
Toyota and Daihatsu have implemented extensive structural reforms following Daihatsu’s change. crash test cheating scandalThis has caused a Discontinued sales on all car models developed by Daihatsu and affected the nearly flawless reputations of both companies. The press release said the move will affect the company’s overseas business structure and reorganize Daihatsu into a “mobility company focused on mini cars.” [i.e. kei cars].”
These reforms aim to prevent a repeat of so-called “procedural irregularities” by recognizing “Daihatsu’s strength.” [lack of?] resources and real conditions”, instead taking advantage of the company’s strengths to “create better and better cars”. Such a statement could be interpreted in many ways, but it essentially means that Daihatsu will withdraw from global automobile development and return to construction. kei car for the Japanese market.
As a result of the reforms, the Emerging Market Compact Car Company including Toyota and Daihatsu will be dissolved, with product planning responsibility transferred to Toyota Compact Car Company. The latter will be a contractor for Daihatsu in emerging markets (such as Southeast Asia) and handle the entire process of creating future models, from development to certification.
In addition, product and sales management responsibilities will also be transferred to Toyota’s Sales and Sales Unit. The company will undertake other areas related to subcontracting – including resource management and optimization – to strengthen its partnership with Daihatsu.
These structural changes will be reflected in the renaming of the two companies tasked with developing and manufacturing cars for the wider Asian region. Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing (TDEM) in Thailand and Toyota Motor Asia Pacific (TMAP) in Singapore will henceforth be named Toyota Motor Asia (TMA) and establish Toyota’s Asia regional headquarters. The aim is to make both autonomous and expand their cooperation. The reforms are expected to be completed by June.
Daihatsu has so far played an important role in developing cars for the ASEAN market, building the Daihatsu New Global Architecture (DNGA) as the foundation for several car models sold in the region. These include Daihatsu stone/Toyota Raize/Perodua Ativa, Xenia/Veloz/Alza And Ayla/Agya/Axia triplets, as well as Toyota Vios And Yaris Cross.
The Ayla/Agya/Axia and Vios were affected by the aforementioned safety scandal, in which modifications were made to pass crash tests that were not available on production vehicles. Another crash test scandal hits Rocky and Raize e-Smart Hybridwhereby the results of the passenger-side crash test are copied to the driver’s side without repeating the test exactly.
An independent panel investigates the crisis found that the scandal stemmed from management focusing on “short-term growth” and failing to take measures to address fraud. They added that the group “does not fully grasp the actual situation and only responds on an ad hoc basis,” leaving workers “unable to speak up when they have problems.” The reorganization, aimed at easing Daihatsu’s burden in global auto development, will certainly hope to resolve the scandal issue.
One aspect that the press release does not mention is Perodua. As a partial subsidiary of Daihatsu, the national automaker plays a key role in developing cars built on the DNGA platform. Does this reorganization reduce the company’s position in the partnership? And will this move affect future car models such as new electric car and coming soon Bezza next generation? Only time will tell.
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