DAIHATSU ONE!

November 13, 2025

The e-SNEAKER That People Are Talking About at the Expo and Daihatsu’s Aspiration Behind It

MONODUKURI and KOTODUKURI

  • NewCar
  • Mobility
  • Expo

“I do not want to ride an unattractive mobility scooter.”
Those words inspired Daihatsu to create a new personal mobility, the e-SNEAKER.
Look, ride, listen, and you will understand!
Hoshikawa from the Inner Communication Group went to the site and talked with the developers.

“I do not want to ride an unattractive mobility scooter.”
Those words inspired Daihatsu to create a new personal mobility, the e-SNEAKER.
Look, ride, listen, and you will understand!
Hoshikawa from the Inner Communication Group went to the site and talked with the developers.

I rode the e-SNEAKER!

Early October 2025 —
I heard there was a test ride event for employees. I could not stay away, so I went to cover it!

I also asked Iwamoto from the Product Planning Department, who led the early development, about the key design choices. Please watch the video!

Key points they focused on:

◆ Stylish design

The design looks stylish. It’s not just for older people; younger users will want to ride it too!
I can really feel their wish to bring the freedom of mobility to everyone!

◆ Easy and practical to use

It’s made so users can ride it intuitively, like a moped or bicycle. The team designed every detail to make sure it rides, turns, and stops safely, even on slopes or with sudden steering.

◆ Eye level that doesn’t make others look down at you

You sit at a height similar to a standing person. You can talk at a natural eye level and don't feel looked down on. Going out will feel more fun!

We understand the benefits of e-SNEAKER, but why did Daihatsu make it?

People who need it are more likely to try it when they see others using it. At the Expo 2025, many people probably felt they wanted to try the e-SNEAKER.

When moving gets hard, people tend to stay at home. That makes both mind and body weaker. That is why society needs a familiar way to move. A simple, everyday mobility device that many age groups can use.

To answer that need, we made the e-SNEAKER from the wish to achieve “freedom of mobility for everyone.”

Also, at the plant, we are working on people-friendly production processes unique to e-SNEAKER. You should go see it!

(Iwamoto, Product Planning Department)

(Iwamoto, Product Planning Department)

Hearing that, I wanted to know more.
So, I went to the Ikeda Plant.

Handcrafted with people-friendly production processes

In a corner of the body area at Ikeda Plant, District 2, there is an e-SNEAKER assembly line. It is surrounded by vinyl walls for heat protection.
Let’s ask Yamamoto and Asahi from the Ikeda Assembly Section about their people-friendly production processes!

(Yamamoto, Ikeda Assembly Section)

We started this process based on Daihatsu's concept of creating people-friendly processes.
At the plant, we face issues like labor shortages and an aging workforce. To address this, we want people with different backgrounds to find meaningful processes here. This includes wheelchair users and people with disabilities. Every day, we work toward that goal.

(Yamamoto, Ikeda Assembly Section)

(Asahi, Ikeda Assembly Section)

This line is different from mass production. We make fewer units per day, which means each vehicle takes more time to build. Naturally, each worker must learn more tasks. So, we added various features throughout the process to help anyone do the job accurately.

(Asahi, Ikeda Assembly Section)

I see. Even though each person has more tasks, the line is designed so that people from diverse backgrounds can work here. How was this process created?

(Asano, Ikeda Assembly Section)

We aimed for a process that anyone can do without making mistakes. We used ideas from the COPEN line, which has many manual steps, like e-SNEAKER. As each person has a heavy workload, we show work steps and quality checks on monitors. We also use carts that hold many parts in the order they are fitted. We focus on clarity and ease of use.

(Asano, Ikeda Assembly Section)

(Kuroda, Ikeda Assembly Section)

Starting a line different from car production brought worries. While building this process was hard, with advice from our managers and coworkers, we can utilize the MONODUKURI skills we had developed over the years.

(Kuroda, Ikeda Assembly Section)

So even though the line is different from car production, it has features that make sure anyone can do the job correctly!

They showed us the actual process.

Small parts come together to make one e-SNEAKER. Before delivery, each e-SNEAKER made with great care goes through inspections similar to those for cars. Then it goes to the customer.

I felt that e-SNEAKER is a mobility device filled with the passion of everyone involved in its manufacture, bringing smiles to those who ride it.

Closing words

Because the e-SNEAKER is an electric mobility device with a different structure from a car, there were new challenges and difficulties. I learned that many people within the company were involved and struggled with countless hardships. Still, they worked together, overcame those challenges, and made their idea a reality for customers. That, to me, is the work of an automaker.

Finally, thank you to everyone who helped with this coverage.
This was Hoshikawa from the Inner Communication Group.

Related links

The people featured in this article

  • Product Planning Department

    Iwamoto

  • Ikeda Assembly Section

    Yamamoto

  • Ikeda Assembly Section

    Asahi

  • Ikeda Assembly Section

    Asano

  • Ikeda Assembly Section

    Kuroda

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