The press release stated that the move will affect the firms’ overseas business structure and reorganise Daihatsu into a “mobility company centred on mini vehicles [i.e. kei cars].”
The reforms are aimed at preventing a repeat of the so-called “procedural irregularities” by recognising “Daihatsu’s [lack of?] resources and actual conditions,” instead leveraging the company’s strengths to “build ever-better cars.” Such a statement can be read in several ways, but it essentially means that Daihatsu will withdraw from global car development and return to building kei cars for the Japanese market.
As a result of the reform, the Emerging-market Compact Car Company that spanned both Toyota and Daihatsu will be dissolved, with product planning responsibilities being shifted to the Toyota Compact Car Company. The latter will be the contractor to Daihatsu in emerging markets (such as Southeast Asia) and handle the entire process of creating future models, from development to certification
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