Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholders of the Daihatsu Group

Daihatsu Group’s Basic CSR Principles

[Foreword]
• At the Daihatsu Group, we are aware of our role as a corporate citizen. Through dialogue with our stakeholders, we seek to deepen our understanding of, and take responsibility for, the impact we have on society and the environment. Our goal is to thereby “develop a long-term relationship of trust with all our stakeholders.”
At the Group, we comply with all relevant laws and regulations in Japan and overseas; through our unique and innovative approach to car creating, all our employees contribute to the sustainable growth both of the Daihatsu Group itself and of society as a whole.

[With our customers]
• At the Daihatsu Group, we enhance the satisfaction of our customers by providing them with small cars and services that are safe, high-quality, and affordable. In this way, we hope to enable people the world over to live free, independent, and brilliant lives in which mobility plays a central role.

• We strive to protect the personal information of our customers, and of all people we encounter in our business activities.

[With local communities]
• At the Daihatsu Group, we seek to become a company that has roots in the communities in which it operates. To this end, we respect local traditions, cultures, and customs and, through dialogue and cooperation with local parties, we contribute both to the resolution of societal issues and to the harmonious growth of local communities.

[The global environment]
• At the Daihatsu Group, we believe that preserving the irreplaceable global environment for future generations is a responsibility shared by all humanity. We seek to minimize the environmental load of our business processes in every stage of our product lifecycles; at the same time, through the use of outstanding environmental technologies, we seek to realize a mobility society that places a lighter burden on the natural environment.

[With our business partners]
• At the Daihatsu Group, we endeavor to coexist and co-prosper with our business partners through open and fair trade.
We also collaborate with our business partners and with industry groups to fulfill our societal responsibilities in every stage of our supply chain.

[With our shareholders and investors]
• At the Daihatsu Group, we work to safeguard the soundness and transparency of our management; at the same time, through proper and fair information disclosure and through dialogue with our shareholders and investors, we aim to improve our corporate value from a long-term perspective.

[With our employees]
• At the Daihatsu Group, we respect the human rights of all the people we encounter in our business activities; at the same time, we seek to create environments in which all Group employees can work safely, healthily, and with energy and enthusiasm.

• We strive to create workplaces where employees get fairly evaluated; at the same time, we develop systems that enable employees to experience job satisfaction and achieve personal growth, and thereby foster an open company culture.

Customers

Under the Group slogan, “Light you up,” Daihatsu strives to stay close to customers and provide better products
and services that reflect the opinions of customers through MONODUKURI1 and KOTODUKURI.2

1. A concept for auto manufacturing embodying Daihatsu’s unique value
2. Increasing points of contact with customers and local communities in a way that is unique to Daihatsu

Communication with Customers

Daihatsu works to enhance means of communication, such as call centers and websites, with customers including individuals, businesses, and governmental agencies that are currently using Daihatsu vehicles as well as those who are considering purchasing a Daihatsu vehicle and also to provide accurate information in response to inquiries. We provide feedback on the opinions, requests, and indications received from customers to the relevant divisions and use this information as a tool for improving the quality of products and services and undertaking new initiatives.

Engagement with Customers through MONODUKURI

Daihatsu reflects knowledge gained through dialogue with customers in product planning and development. We conduct quantitative research, exemplified by questionnaire surveys, to identify the scale and distribution of market needs, and also engage as necessary in qualitative research, such as individual interviews of customers and observation of product use conditions. For example, we interview customers with children regarding issues that they have when using a vehicle with their children, leading to the adoption of new mechanisms to solve those problems. Also, specifically for commercial vehicles, our employees ride with customers in agricultural, forestry, and fisheries businesses to experience actual work with those customers, and incorporate product improvements based on real-world use environments. To plan and develop vehicles optimized for customer needs not just in Japan, but in foreign markets as well, we are actively conducting wide-ranging market research.

By visiting customers and listening to their stories directly, employees are able to gain an understanding of improvement and enhancement

Engagement with Customers and Local Residents through KOTODUKURI

Daihatsu conducts “health and safe driving courses” in various regions with the aims of reducing accidents and supporting independent living by seniors

Daihatsu is currently expanding its contacts with customers and local residents and promoting KOTODUKURI that provides high experiential value. For example, we are responding to issues that Japan is confronting, such as a low birth rate, an aging population, and the necessity of regional revitalization, by taking measures with close ties to various regions including locally based projects that leverage Daihatsu’s strengths to provide customers with access to unrestricted mobility and independent lives no matter how old they become. Specific measures include regularly holding “health and safe driving courses” in various regions through collaboration among industry, government, academia, and local communities to reduce traffic accidents and support independent living by seniors as well as measures to reinforce engagement with customers and local residents through grassroots programs such as the “Daihatsu ABC Badminton National Primary School Tournament” and support for women’s soccer.

Employees, Local Communities, and Shareholders (Investors)

Daihatsu endeavors to create environments in which all employees can work with energy and enthusiasm while maintaining close ties with local communities and engaging in various activities with the aim of becoming a company-firmly rooted in the local community.

Communication with Employees

Daihatsu created labor-management council bodies to accurately reflect worksite opinions in management and advance in the same direction based on a shared understanding of management issues between labor and management. Specific activities include monthly meetings held at each worksite to discuss work-related issues. We hold Labor-Management Council meetings three times each year, which share and discuss key issues from each worksite. At the meetings, the management team takes ownership of worksite issues, examines them, and works to create solutions. Through this process, labor and management strive to engage in two-way communication that fosters a sense of unity for the development of Daihatsu based on the principle of building relationships of mutual trust and responsibility between labor and management. We also periodically issue internal newsletters to share information on Daihatsu’s initiatives and employees who work on those efforts with the aims of raising employee motivation and promoting communication.

Communication with Local Communities: National and Local Governmental Agencies

Daihatsu proactively works in collaboration with governmental agencies to solve the problems faced by local communities. For example, in Ikeda City, the location of the Daihatsu Head Office, and Ryuoh-cho, the location of the Shiba (Ryuoh) Plant, we operate the Angel Vehicle Loan Program (Ikeda City) and the Daihatsu Tatsunoko Family Car Provision Scheme (Ryuoh-cho), respectively, which loan vehicles free of charge for three years to families that have a certain number of children. We also participate in a collaborative farming and livestock program operated by Ryuoh-cho office to promote a project for the development and social implementation of methane fermentation technology using the dung of locally grown Omi cattle. This advanced initiative was selected for demonstration research development of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) and Ryuoh-cho's Biomass Industrial City Concept, centered on this project, was also selected in FY2023. By working in collaboration with local governments, which are key stakeholders for Daihatsu, we began providing “welfare care MaaS” to support the mobility of local senior residents. Also, individual sales companies have entered into comprehensive collaboration agreements, support agreements, and other such agreements with local governments and conduct activities that contribute to enriching the lives of local residents.

Communication with Local Communities: Nonprofit Organizations

Daihatsu works closely with nonprofit organizations (NPOs), which focus on social contribution activities, as we strive to deepen our engagement with local communities. For instance, we support the activities of Himawari-no-kai, an NPO that advocates for traffic safety for pregnant women, to distribute maternity traffic safety stickers to pregnant women nationwide. We also converted Nibako mobile sales packages installed on the decks of light trucks into Dokodemo Play Parks (mobile playgrounds) and donated them to the nonprofit organization Hokusetsu Children Culture Association, which supports children at a time where there are fewer locations to play as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Anywhere Play Parks have been well received as an initiative to create opportunities for outreach-type* community development.

※* Outreach-type refers to a type of measure where rather than having users visit and use facilities, facilities seek the same results by reaching out to users.

Maternity Traffic Safety Stickers

Vehicles donated for Dokodemo Play Parks

Shareholders (Investors)

Daihatsu is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation, and therefore, Toyota is Daihatsu’s sole shareholder. We see shareholders who have invested in Toyota as our own stakeholders and strive to enhance corporate value as a member of the Toyota Group.

Suppliers and Memberships

In order to supply to customers high-quality, affordable vehicles equipped with advanced technology, Daihatsu builds relationships based on trust and structures that enable stable procurement of parts, materials,
and equipment while developing mutually beneficial relationships with business partners.

Daihatsu Supplier CSR Guidelines

Daihatsu established the Daihatsu Group Basic CSR Principles as an expression of the Group’s fundamental stance on the activities of all Group employees. We recognize the importance of CSR initiatives not only within the Daihatsu Group, but also at our suppliers. Accordingly, in consideration of changes in the domestic and overseas business circumstances, we have revised and issued the “DAIHATSU Supplier CSR Guidelines” in January 2020 as a request for more specific initiatives.

Communication with Suppliers

Daihatsu provides information on our activities and priority initiatives to suppliers as appropriate such as through yearly policy briefings. On a daily basis, Daihatsu buyers and relevant departments visit the manufacturing site of each supplier to confirm the actual products firsthand, tirelessly engaging in dialogue on issues such as quality and cost improvement. Daihatsu also established the Daihatsu Suppliers Club (DSC), which has approximately 620 companies, with the aims of promoting interaction among suppliers and creating opportunities for suppliers and Daihatsu to learn from each other.
The DSC holds annual meeting once each year, and there are opportunities for managing companies to exchange ideas and opinions four times annually. At the annual meeting, Daihatsu also actively provides information, and participating companies form a consensus on the pursuit of mutually beneficial relationships by responding promptly to changes in the business environment. At the suppliers Appreciation Meeting held at the same time, we commended suppliers that made significant contributions to enhanced safety, quality, product appeal and cost competitiveness and expressed our gratitude, deepening engagement with suppliers. We also conduct study sessions for suppliers on measures for achieving carbon neutrality to establish a shared recognition and urge them to take specific action to reduce CO2 emissions. We provide information to suppliers on the Toyota Supplier Sustainability Guidelines, which we observe, and take action to ensure rigorous compliance.

Memberships

Daihatsu is a member of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, Inc., Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc., Keidanren (Japan Business Federation), and various other trade organizations. We take a position of responsibility in each organization while gathering information through participation in committees and so on and participating in organizational decision-making.