Toyota adds 'kei' makers to technology partnership

30+ years late but it’s exciting that Yoshiki will be bringing much needed innovation to Toyota.

“Toyota adds 'kei' makers to technology partnership” -

are popular with farmers

They aren't "popular" with anyone. People buy them because they're cheap, thanks to discriminatory govt regulation. Remove that regulation, and they would quickly disappear.

Kei models also hold potential for other parts of Asia,

Yeah, right. They aren't exported because hardly anyone outside of Japan - with its unfair regulations - wants or needs a four-wheel, four-seat vehicle with a 660cc engine.

Let's not even get into the safety issues with those tin boxes.

Yeah, right. They aren't exported because hardly anyone outside of Japan - with its unfair regulations - wants or needs a four-wheel, four-seat vehicle with a 660cc engine.

Eh, not so fast. They have a following in the US. I have been giving serious consideration to a Honda Acty van. Nissan Pao's and Figaro's are popular too. They are street legal in many states though in some you have to stay off freeways. For me it would be perfect for going to work and knocking around town. Lots of room for the doggies.

The shape of things to come. There are many resident engineers from Suzuki and Daihatsu in TMC. Basically they go there to learn the specifications and take it back with them to their company to implement in their vehicles after their 2-3 year assignment is over. That’s how the collaboration works. TMC gains leverage.

They have a following in the US.

The East German Trabant has a "following" in Germany. Bad cars attain cult status, which doesnt make them good cars.

Nissan Pao's and Figaro's are popular too. 

Those have 1 liter engines, not 660cc. The 660cc size limit was devised by postwar bureaucrats, not engineers. Only a seriously insane engineer would opt for that kind of engine displacement for van or passenger car.

Isn't Daihatsu already part of Toyota?

Regarding the "sell in Asia" idea, Suzuki already sell the Wagon R, one of the most popular kei cars, in India, but with a 1000cc engine. Its because 660cc only makes sense when the government is giving you a big tax break and other perks for it.

"Capitalized at 10 million yen ($91,000)..."

That is a very small figure considering the high-profile companies involved, and must be a typographical error. 'Billion' or 'trillion' instead of 'million'?

Only a seriously insane engineer would opt for that kind of engine displacement for van or passenger car.

I guess the engineers at Citroen were insane. The 2CV had a 375 cc two cylinder engine originally (1948). The largest engine to grace a 2CV was 602 cc. Both were liquid cooled. The Steyr Haflinger off road truck used an air cooled 600 cc flat twin engine.

The 2CV had a 375 cc two cylinder engine originally (1948). 

Interesting. Until 1976 in Japan, kei cars had limit of 360cc. So somewhat similar. From 1976 to 1990, the limit was 550cc. (I had one of those - a Daihatsu. I drove it for about six years.) In 1990, it moved to 660cc.

I bought my Daihatsu Move ten years ago. It's done 190,000 km and it's still going strong. Plenty of room inside, good acceleration, good road holding and doesn't use a lot of petrol.

These are great cars and destined to get even better with Toyota's tech behind them.

I see the little Daihatsu and Isuzu Kei trucklets with their fold down sides in the US. I remember when I was active duty they were popular for knocking around naval bases and air stations with various cargos.