Daihatsu’s fuel-efficient mini-car to debut in August

Daihatsu Motor Co. plans to release its e:S mini-vehicle in mid-August, President Koichi Ina told The Nikkei in an interview. The company previously said the fuel-efficient car, which runs 30 kilometers (km) per liter of gasoline, will debut in 2011. The model will sell for less than Y1 million (US$12,135). Because Daihatsu used a mileage measurement method to be adopted in April, the new car’s fuel efficiency cannot be simply compared with that of existing autos. Still, the e:S will be the most economical vehicle in Japan, excluding hybrids. The Move mini-car, which Daihatsu released last month, runs 27 km per liter, the standing record. Ina also said the company will boost its passenger vehicle output capacity in Indonesia by nearly 20% to 330,000 units in May. The capacity was raised earlier this month to 280,000 units from 230,000 units. (January 21, 2011)