Daihatsu is a Japanese manufacturer of cars, especially compact/small cars. These cars are also known as kei jidosha in Japan.

Daihatsu researches hybrid vehicles and two stroke diesel engines.

1907 Hatsudoki Seizo Co., Ltd. founded
1951 Company renamed: Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.
1967 Starting cooperation with Toyota Motor Corporation
1988 Daihatsu USA launched with the Charade and Rocky
1992 Daihatsu USA closed in February
1999 Becomes subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation

It was reported on 31 March 2005, that Toyota will pull Daihatsu out of the Australian market, after sales dwindled severely. Sales were down a third so far in 2005, from 816 to just 541 vehicles. This is in spite of the new-car market in Australia growing 7%. Daihatsu will completely wind up sales in March 2006. Daihatsu has been in the Australian market for almost 40 years.