Daihatsu resumes operations, implements management shake-up

After shutting down operations for approximately 55 days due to certification irregularities that caused concern for stakeholders, government regulators, and consumers, Daihatsu Motor Company Limited resumed operations yesterday. But that bit of good news was overshadowed by the major organizational shakeup that rocked the top management of the Japanese automaker.

Koji Sato, the president of Toyota Motor Corporation (parent company of Daihatsu), announced stark changes in Daihatsu leadership, beginning with the abolition of the Chairman post and the appointment of Masahiro Inoue and Masanori Kuwata as president and vice president, respectively.

“Effective March 1, Chairman Matsubayashi and president Okudaira will resign from their posts. The post of chairman will be abolished, and the new president will be Masahiro Inoue, who is currently chief officer of Toyota's Latin America & Caribbean Region, while Masanori Kuwata of Toyota Motor Kyushu will be newly appointed as executive vice president in addition to current Executive Vice President Hoshika,” said Sato.

All Daihatsu directors were also reassigned to newer posts, while the only remaining director position was filled by another former Toyota Deputy Chief Officer Keiko Yanagi.

“(She) has extensive experience in certification operations, and will be newly appointed as a director. She will support the execution of reliable certification operations by leveraging her extensive knowledge of legal certification,” added Sato.

“I would like to start by going to the sites myself, talking to our employees, gaining their trust, and hearing their true feelings. Through dialogue with employees and stakeholders, we would like to determine the future direction of Daihatsu and explain the new organizational policy in April. We, all Daihatsu members, will make a fresh start together as one,” said president-to-be Inoue.

Daihatsu will target the mini vehicles segment and provide a steady stream of models catering to companies looking for last-mile mobility solutions while also aiming to be Japan’s "national car".