News Snippet: Daihatsu's Exciting EV Race Coming to Tsukuba in May

Daihatsu's Copen EV

Love motor sport, but not overly keen on having your olfactory sensibilities besmirched by the accompanying aromas of scorched rubber and super-heated exhaust fumes; your aural senses assaulted by the banshee-like wail of internal combustion engines reaching their pre-defined engineering limits? If so, then Daihatsu may have an event which suits your exacting motors port needs down to the ground - the "Daihatsu Exciting EV Race", scheduled to take place at Tsukuba Circuit's Course 1000 in May.

An Electric Version of Daihatsu's Midget

With the EV nomenclature designating that this will be a race event solely for electric vehicles (standard production cars which have been modified to run on electricity, to be precise), the cacophonous orchestra of high-revving race-tuned engines and their attendant noxious odours which normally characterise such gatherings should be absent, making this the perfect event for those of a more delicate disposition who prefer their motor sport both tranquil and sedate.

While it remains to be seen just how "exciting' this form of eerily silent motor sport is, proceedings on race day are set to deviate from those of previous years, with the bulk of the action being focused on a time trial around Tsukuba's Course 1000 as opposed to the everyone-for-themselves fight to the finish style race of previous years. There will also be a gymkhana event, where beginners can try their luck in electrically powered go-karts.


The Atmosphere at the Exciting EV Race is Guaranteed to be Electric

With the "green revolution" progressing apace, it won't be too long before all motor sport becomes as muted an affair as Daihatsu's upcoming shindig, so those wishing to view tomorrow's motor sport today should make sure they are at Tsukuba on the 5th May. The event runs from 7am to 4pm and entrance for spectators is free. Those attending are however advised to bring their own soundtrack; ear defenders will however be surplus to requirements.

Wonderfully Small Innovation For Tomorrow - Daihatsu Celebrates Its 100th Anniversary

Daihatsu, a company instrumental in popularizing small vehicles in Japan through diminutive offerings such as the Midget (1959) and Hijet (1960), yesterday celebrated its 100th anniversary with a raft of minor announcements.

Rather distressingly, the first of these admittedly rather dull proclamations announced the demise of Daihatsu's endearing catchphrase, 'wonderful small', the yelling of which, in an unfeasibly spirited voice, had been a regular fixture during Daihatsu commercials here in Japan for the last few years. In embarking on their next hundred years in the automotive business, Daihatsu have however, in their wisdom, decided to ditch this catchy little epithet in favour of, 'Innovation For Tomorrow', which is allegedly more apposite in expressing the company's desire to become 'a global brand, loved by people around the world.' While 'Wonderful Small' remained solely a Japanese phenomenon, the new group slogan looks set to become the calling card for Daihatsu's activities across the globe.

On a more serious, and indeed charitable, note, the company also divulged that it is to donate 100 specially adapted vehicles to local authorities throughout Japan, to be utilized in assisting aged and handicapped members of society in their daily lives. Although undoubtedly this philanthropic gesture is in part a means of garnering publicity, it is good to see Daihatsu showing a genuine social conscience to back up the environmental credentials of its vehicles.

Rounding off this series of special anniversary announcements, was the news that Daihatsu plans to open a Museum adjacent to company headquarters in Ikeda City, Osaka. This facility, known as Humobility World, is due to open on the 7th May, and will house a variety of historical vehicles which chart Daihatsu's first hundred years of business.

The icing on the cake of Daihatsu's centenary celebrations however, came as the Japan Mini Vehicles Association released its monthly sales figures for kei mini vehicles during the month of February . The data from the JMVA showed that Daihatsu managed to shift 59,138 (an 8.7% increase over the same period in 2006) kei vehicles in the month of February, duly giving the company the largest share (32.4%) of the ever-expanding kei vehicle market, for the third consecutive month. Meanwhile, Suzuki, Daihatsu's main rival in this fiercely competitive market, saw sales down 3.2% on the same period in 2006, selling only 57,502 vehicles. If current trends continue, 2007 may well see Daihatsu usurp Suzuki as the king of annual kei vehicle sales, a title which Suzuki, often cited as the founder of the kei car niche, has held for some 34 successive years. However, certain industry analysts have put Daihatsu's recent run at the top of the sales tables down to the fact that Daihatsu renewed its core line-up of kei vehicles at the very end of 2006, with the introduction of brand new Move and Mira (Charade/Cuore) models, while Suzuki's latest offerings in the kei sector have been on the market a little longer. Another possible explanation for Daihatsu's sudden dominance, is the fact that Suzuki have been ramping down production of kei vehicles, allegedly to concentrate on the manufacture of slightly larger compact vehicles for the lucrative export market. Perhaps, however, Suzuki are just being chivalrous, and allowing rivals Daihatsu to have their cake and eat it during their centenary year.