Daihatsu America Inc

Daihatsu America Inc. in Los Alamitos is the U.S. importer for what most auto-industry experts agree is one of the classiest minicars around. But the tiny company has yet to make a big sales impression with its Charade passenger car. Only 10,630 were sold in the United States last year.

Daihatsu on Thursday became the little Japanese car company that couldn't, announcing that it will end production and export of passenger vehicles for the U.S. market later this year. Despite winning praise from auto critics for the quality of its vehicles, Daihatsu was never able to win a place in American consumers' hearts. Its car and truck sales plummeted 40% last year. "Their products just were never really geared to the U.S. market," said John Rettie, editor of J. D.

Daihatsu on Thursday became the little Japanese car company that couldn't, announcing that it will end production and export of passenger vehicles for the U.S. market later this year. Despite winning praise from auto critics for the quality of its vehicles, Daihatsu was never able to win a place in American consumers' hearts. Its car and truck sales plummeted 40% last year. "Their products just were never really geared to the U.S. market," said John Rettie, editor of J. D.

Daihatsu on Thursday became the little Japanese car company that couldn't, announcing that it will end production and export of passenger vehicles for the U.S. market later this year. Despite winning praise from auto critics for the quality of its vehicles, Daihatsu was never able to win a place in American consumers' hearts after entering the U.S. market in 1988. Its car and truck sales plummeted 40% last year. "Their products just were never really geared to the U.S.

Daihatsu on Thursday became the little Japanese car company that couldn't, announcing that it will end production and export of passenger vehicles for the U.S. market later this year. Despite winning praise from auto critics for the quality of its vehicles, Daihatsu was never able to win a place in American consumers' hearts after entering the U.S. market in 1988. Its car and truck sales plummeted 40% last year. "Their products just were never really geared to the U.S.

The ship came in last week, but it was months late and didn't carry enough cargo to make much of an impact. The cargo ship docked at the Port of Long Beach with about 250 new Daihatsu automobiles on board. It was the first shipment of 1991 passenger cars from Daihatsu Motor Co. of Osaka, Japan, to reach American shores. That is only enough cars for the Japanese auto maker's U.S. dealers to get about one new car apiece for their showrooms.

The ship came in last week, but it was months late and didn't carry enough cargo to make much of an impact. The ship docked at the Port of Long Beach with about 250 new Daihatsu automobiles on board. It was the first shipment of 1991 passenger cars from Daihatsu Motor Co. of Osaka, Japan, to reach American shores. That is only enough cars for the Japanese auto maker's U.S. dealers to get about one new car apiece for their showrooms.

Charades Are In: Daihatsu America Inc., based in Los Alamitos, has finally got enough 1991Charade cars from Japan to officially introduce the line, six months into the selling season. But while late, the news should give the Los Alamitos-based importer a boost: Prices are down from last year. The three-door Charade hatchback has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $6,397, down from $6,597 for 1990.

Since Jan. 1, California has required car makers and importers to disclose bumper crash standards on their vehicles' window stickers. But those standards are for the federal government's 2.5-m.p.h. crash test, which was substituted several years ago for a 5-m.p.h. test. Acting on the suspicion that a lot more drivers hit things while going at least 5 m.p.h. than 2.5 m.p.h., the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety decided to hold its own 5-m.p.h. tests.

Mazda Motor of America, which is eliminating a quarter of the remaining jobs at its Irvine headquarters, isn't the only auto maker resorting to layoffs to counter stalled sales. Automobile manufacturers around the world are "gearing up for competition in the international marketplace," said James M. Bills, an economist with Comerica Bank in Detroit. "It's a difficult adjustment, not only in this country, but in Japan and Europe as well." Mazda's U.S.

Daihatsu America Inc. in Los Alamitos is the U.S. importer for what most auto-industry experts agree is one of the classiest minicars around. But the tiny company has yet to make a big sales impression with its Charade passenger car. Only 10,630 were sold in the United States last year.

The ship came in last week, but it was months late and didn't carry enough cargo to make much of an impact. The cargo ship docked at the Port of Long Beach with about 250 new Daihatsu automobiles on board. It was the first shipment of 1991 passenger cars from Daihatsu Motor Co. of Osaka, Japan, to reach American shores. That is only enough cars for the Japanese auto maker's U.S. dealers to get about one new car apiece for their showrooms.

The ship came in last week, but it was months late and didn't carry enough cargo to make much of an impact. The ship docked at the Port of Long Beach with about 250 new Daihatsu automobiles on board. It was the first shipment of 1991 passenger cars from Daihatsu Motor Co. of Osaka, Japan, to reach American shores. That is only enough cars for the Japanese auto maker's U.S. dealers to get about one new car apiece for their showrooms.

Japanese motorcycle makers were the first Asian motor companies to open distribution and marketing headquarters in Orange County when they came here in the 1960s. Since then, several Asian car companies have made Orange County their American home. Although no cars are made here, one industry analyst describes the county as "Motown on the Pacific." The largest Japanese motor companies--Toyota, Nissan and Honda--are in Los Angeles County, where they settled more than 25 years ago.

In response to the softest domestic auto market since the early 1980s, four Asian car manufacturers with U.S. headquarters in Orange County are gearing up to attract a wider range of consumers. The car makers--Mazda, Daihatsu, Hyundai and Mitsubishi--are officially rolling out their 1990 models this week and next. All four made names by appealing to the lower end of the car market.