There aren’t many interesting and/or enthusiast models not sold here but available in Indonesia. The Daihatsu Copen is one such car. The kei-roadster has been on sale in the republic since 2015 by PT Astra Daihatsu Motor (ADM), the official Daihatsu distributor which makes its money selling shiploads of Xenia and Sigra MPVs.
The Copen is ADM’s smallest but most expensive model, being a JDM import from Daihatsu’s home market. Even in Japan, the little Daihatsu isn’t everywhere you look – along with the Honda S660, it’s a rare two-door sports-bodied kei car, going against the grain of eking out maximum space from a tiny footprint.
But all good things come to an end, and the Copen’s time in Indonesia is up. ADM has confirmed that it will stop bringing in the Copen. “We stopped in 2019. From the start, the intention was to showcase that Daihatsu has such a model – it wasn’t for high volume and sales. Now, we focus on our current models,” ADM’s marketing director Amelia Tjandra told Kompas, adding that the roadster was aimed at hobbyists.
The ADM exec said that the local Copen population is in the hundreds at most, and the company will stop entertaining special orders, which was how the model was sold in recent years. Previous reports stated that in 2015, ADM sold 14 units of the Copen – four manuals and 10 with CVT autos. In 2016, the company sold two units with the stick shift.
This small group of owners are a lucky bunch indeed, as we don’t get such charity from Perodua. While it’s undeniable that low volume imports like the Copen are not worth the hassle in terms of ringgits and rupiahs, they foster brand fans and bring interest to the marque. Totally biased view from a consumer of Japanese coupes, of course.
The little convertible with interchangeable body panels is available in Japan in two regular styles – a sharp Robe dress (as seen here) and a cute Cero with round lights. At the recent Tokyo Auto Salon, Daihatsu displayed two special Copens – a limited edition hardtop Copen Coupe and the Copen GR Sport Concept, tuned by Toyota Gazoo Racing.
GALLERY: Daihatsu Copen GR Sport Concept at TAS 2019
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Jepunis that cannot sell? Must be fake news kan? Lolz!
“From the start, the intention was to showcase that Daihatsu has such a model – it wasn’t for high volume and sales.”
And Indonesians normally look for 7 seater MPVs (Avanza, Xenia, etc). They need something practical to ferry their families and friends. a sports car can’t do that.
They also buys sedans but Daihatsu itself isn’t a very big brand there. I see more Suzukis than Daihatsus. Daihatsus there are like Suzukis here.
Perodua please.. rebadge this model..
This copen will sell like hotcake in mesia.
For 4 years before stopping sales? Why? The logistics, service and spareparts hassle doesn’t make it worth any profits to them. Just look at Nautica and see what happened.
si Mungil Daihatsu Copen di Indonesia price nya sekitar RM125 ribu, patut rilis di M’sia ndak..
Perodua should rebadge it. Sell it at 60k. Sure fully book coz we never have 2 door + 2 seats car by Malaysian company.
Looks like someone forgot about the proton arena. If that was your definition of 2 seats and 2 doors…..
Bro, Arena is pick-up category. Not sport car man.
Perodua,
Why not bring in the COPEN? You did import CBU the Nautica before, and I believe the COPEN could be sold at ARUZ prices easily. It will do a massive goodwill and increase the brand loyalty to perodua.
They had brought in Nautica CBU from Japan and they learned a very costly lesson not to do that again.