Japan’s Daihatsu to reopen Kyushu, Osaka car plants

Japanese car manufacturer Daihatsu will resume operations at its Kyushu and Osaka plants from 6 and 7 May respectively, which will mark a full reopening of its domestic facilities.

Production volumes at these plants were undisclosed. Daihatsu suspended all of its operations in December 2023 after it was accused of tampering with safety test results. It resumed partially in February but most of its production facilities, including its major plant in Osaka, remained closed.

Daihatsu produced nothing in January and 6,692 units in February, less than one-tenth of its production a year earlier. This led to year-on-year declines in Japan's total car output in January and February.

By Yusuke Maekawa