In 2023, certification irregularities were uncovered at Daihatsu. In March of the following year, President Masahiro Inoue led the company in launching a new organizational structure, and reforms are currently making steady progress to prevent a recurrence. Amid all this, Toyota Times was contacted by President Inoue, who asked that the team visit Daihatsu’s genba to see the reality on the ground.
Yuta Tomikawa visited Daihatsu headquarters in Osaka in October, 2024. What has the state of mind been in the genba during this period since the issues were discovered?
They reflected on what the real cause was, on the pain of being unable to explain things—to suppliers, customers, or even family—and on the quiet strength they found in themselves in facing the issues head-on. In the video, employees speak openly from the heart.
December 20, 2023 was the day the third-party committee released their audit findings. Daihatsu designated this day as “Fresh Start Day,” and President Inoue called upon all employees to “pledge to prevent recurrences both now and in the future.”
To ensure that every employee understands the certification issues and thinks about how to work in ways that prevent recurrence, Daihatsu established the Koudoukan, a place to think and act. It’s a place to understand the background of the certification issues and learn from case studies.
Two years since the issue came to light, in June 2025, Daihatsu announced the new Move. President Inoue observed, “We’re a carmaker. New cars keep us going.”
A fresh start for Daihatsu. We captured a genba where people are moving forward with determination and resolve.