Toyota Buys Out Rest of Daihatsu for $4.6billion !!

csv8 · 31-01-2016, 05:01 PM

"At a press conference today, Toyota has confirmed that it will purchasing the remaining portion of Daihatsu that it doesn’t already own.

Toyota will acquire the remainder of Daihatsu for around $4.6 billion in an all-stock transaction, with Toyota offering 0.26 of its shares for every share of Daihatsu.

If all goes to plan, the move will be approved by Daihatsu’s shareholders by the end of June, and the small car specialist will cease trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on July 26, with Toyota officially taking over on August 1.

Toyota plans on retaining the Daihatsu brand, with small car development being entrusted to Daihatsu, although neither side gave a clear answer as to which vehicles Daihatsu would develop beyond its current duties in the domestic kei car realm.

Daihatsu will also play a key role in Toyota’s emerging market strategy, with the former enjoying a large market share in places such as Indonesia and Malaysia.

image: http://westwheels.caradvice.com.au/t...aunch-blue.jpg
daihatsu-copen-launch-blue
Above: Daihatsu Copen. Top: Daihatsu Xenia.

In the question and answer session that followed the press conference, Masanori Mitsui, president of Daihatsu, told reporters: “In a nutshell the Daihatsu brand will of course continue, but it will not continue as is, we will evolve the brand. It may not be a very good example, but my feeling is the following, we will be like Mini for BMW … We want to grow Daihatsu into a global brand with that kind of added value.”

Akio Toyoda, Toyota’s CEO, mirrored that feeling, stating: “The Daihatsu brand will never ever disappear, let me assure you of that. Mini’s value to BMW, that’s the sort of level we should aim for [with Daihatsu].”

Toyoda let a question about a rumoured tie-up between Toyota and Suzuki go straight through to the keeper.

Read more at http://www.caradvice.com.au/412125/t...aPXOaLVHyYi.99

malazn mafia · 31-01-2016, 05:17 PM

Daihatsu is the Jap equivalent of Daewoo. Forgettable, underpowered, flimsy cheap 3 cylinder junk. Pretty sure it can be said Daihatsu has irreparable brand damage..

Gee-dog · 31-01-2016, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Daihatsu is the Jap equivalent of Daewoo. Forgettable, underpowered, flimsy cheap 3 cylinder junk. Pretty sure it can be said Daihatsu has irreparable brand damage..

To be fair, I've owned a Daihatsu (Applause) and a Ford (FG G6ET), and the Daihatsu was a much better built car, and was more reliable by a huge factor. It also had more than 3 cylinders

Franco Cozzo · 31-01-2016, 06:11 PM

Daihatsu Rocky was a pretty decent 4x4.

csv8 · 31-01-2016, 06:11 PM

tempted..maybe the TERIOS ?? small SUV below Rav4 ???

FPV+fteT3 · 31-01-2016, 06:12 PM

Daihatsu also make small diesel trucks maybe that is an area Toyota are looking at exploiting.

**GasoLane** · 31-01-2016, 06:16 PM

So, according to you two, Toyota (the biggest car company in the world) don't have a clue what their doing ?

Express · 31-01-2016, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Daihatsu is the Jap equivalent of Daewoo. Forgettable, underpowered, flimsy cheap 3 cylinder junk. Pretty sure it can be said Daihatsu has irreparable brand damage..

It's in good hands then.

Plus if it's marketed as a reborn brand designed and built under the guiding hand of its new owner the automobile giant Toyota, the sheep will flock to be fleeced.

Bill M · 31-01-2016, 07:08 PM

While they are not sold here and have not been since 2005 they are big sellers in the mini vehicle market. If only Ford Aus and Holden could have a quarter of their 2014 figures...

http://www.daihatsu.com/ir/library/pdf/annual14.pdf

Windsor220 · 01-02-2016, 12:53 AM

I used to work at a Daihatsu dealership back when they were still around. They were actually quite decent as far as build quality goes. Nothing ever repaired on warranty. Probably do ok in todays market with people looking for cheap cars.

Yellow_Festiva · 01-02-2016, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csv8

tempted..maybe the TERIOS ?? small SUV below Rav4 ???

Badge fits nicely as per this pic I took in 2012 in Samoa:

**Polyal** · 01-02-2016, 05:06 PM

Daihatsu make good little cars for the majority of the markets in the world, why not I guess, its not our market they would give a h00t about rather the China/India/Asia area's.

**Fordman1** · 01-02-2016, 06:32 PM

I see Nostradamus is trying to turn this into another Ford bashing thread ...l

4vxc · 01-02-2016, 10:37 PM

Used to have a Feroza years ago had LSD and was almost unstoppable off road, went a lot further off road than the GQ could, neighbour has a Charade with over 350,000 kms no problems since new in '98
I wouldn't say they're junk

Yellow_Festiva · 01-02-2016, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tempted

What about it? It's a pos.

Driven the new one?????

**Polyal** · 02-02-2016, 09:11 AM

But your missing the point, its made to be cheap.

csv8 · 02-02-2016, 09:26 AM

Cannt be any worse than a TRAX????

JTFG · 02-02-2016, 10:12 AM

The latest Copen looks alright..

Bill M · 02-02-2016, 10:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tempted

You don't have to drive it to see that its a pos. Daihatsu are well known for producing cheap, basic, primitive econoboxes that are at least 20 years behind in tech, dynamics, performance and safety.
I cannot think of a single Daihatsu vehicle that has decent credentials and is even remotely desirable.
They may be reliable but you would expect that from something so basic and primitive.

This is the interior of the 2015 Terios.Looks like something straight out of the early 90's.
image

Did you even read the article???

Quote:

Masanori Mitsui, president of Daihatsu, told reporters: “In a nutshell the Daihatsu brand will of course continue, but it will not continue as is, we will evolve the brand. It may not be a very good example, but my feeling is the following, we will be like Mini for BMW … We want to grow Daihatsu into a global brand with that kind of added value.”

Vesper Martini · 02-02-2016, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill M

Did you even read the article???

wouldn't matter.. if its not an AU ute. its a POS

Yellow_Festiva · 02-02-2016, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j0nni

The latest Copen looks alright..

image

I'm seriously tossing up between one of those or a Cappuccino when I have some spare play money to waste....

Random Ranger · 02-02-2016, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tempted

You don't have to drive it to see that its a pos. Daihatsu are well known for producing cheap, basic, primitive econoboxes that are at least 20 years behind in tech, dynamics, performance and safety.
I cannot think of a single Daihatsu vehicle that has decent credentials and is even remotely desirable.
They may be reliable but you would expect that from something so basic and primitive.

This is the interior of the 2015 Terios.Looks like something straight out of the early 90's.]

And small cheap cars don't sell do they,

Time for a new angle matey, we get it, you hate all cars except AU Utes and the new SS you're going to buy.

marty351 · 02-02-2016, 05:58 PM

This is becoming a most unlikely popcorn and soda thread.

ozpacman · 02-02-2016, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tempted

Daihatsu is/was a waste of resources. I cannot think of a single decent vehicle they have ever produced.
What exactly did Toyota buy? A heap of old dilapidated Charade tooling?

Gee I find it incredibly disappointing when people bag a brand of vehicle just because it comes to the market as an affordable small car.

No, the Charade probably never set the world on fire performance wise, but if that's your thing then you weren't Daihatsu's target audience I guess.

This from a Drive (fairfax media) review:

'By the late '90s it had found its spot as a good-quality mini-car at a bargain price. It came under a sustained assault from Hyundai, with the Excel, Daewoo with the Lanos and Ford's Festiva.

The difference was that while those models suffered numerous mechanical difficulties the NRMA inspectors were uncharacteristically mute when asked what to look for in a used Charade. About all we got was that the timing belt needs to be changed every 100,000km or five years and purchasers should check that this has been done.'

But what do I know - our family car is an i30!