Toyota unit Daihatsu sees 2010 sales rising 3%

Daihatsu Motor Co, the mini-vehicle unit of Toyota Motor Corp, aims to raise its sales by 3% next year with growth centred on Indonesia and Malaysia, its president said on Thursday.                                           

Speaking at the launch of the new Tanto Exe microcar in Tokyo, Teruyuki Minoura said he felt a strong sense of crisis as competition heats up in the auto industry, where archrival Suzuki Motor Corp this month sealed a strategic tie-up with Volkswagen AG.                                            

"We need to focus all our energy on offering a small, affordable and fuel-efficient mini-vehicle to the world," Minoura said. "If we can't do this, we will only be a burden for the Toyota group."                                           

Minoura, however, denied persistent reports that Toyota and Daihatsu were working on a low-cost car for emerging markets.                                           

Minoura said he wanted his engineers to keep their focus on a new mini-vehicle concept unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show in October with mileage of 30 km to the litre on engine improvements alone.                                           

"We're not doing anything with Toyota right now," he said.                                           

But cheap and small cars will likely become a big business for Toyota globally, Minoura said, adding Daihatsu would need to contribute its expertise to prove its worth in the group.                                           

Daihatsu kept its No.1 spot in Japan's 660cc mini-vehicle segment this year with a 35% share, it said.                                           

In 2010, it expects its mini-vehicle sales to stay flat at 590,000 units. Globally, it expects vehicle sales to rise 3% to 950,000 units from an estimated 921,000 vehicles in 2009.