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Daihatsu Charade Sales Figures

Daihatsu Charade

The Charade (third generation) was the only car sold by Daihatsu in the US, besides the Rocky SUV. It was available as a three-door hatchback and from 1990 onward also as a four-door sedan. The Japanese brand only sold cars from 1988 to 1992 and wasn’t very successful, despite ironclad reliability and impressive customer satisfaction. It didn’t help that the Charade was introduced during a period of cheap fuel, and that not a lot of people had heard of the brand.

Daihatsu Charade Overview

The Daihatsu Charade is a supermini car produced by the Japanese automaker Daihatsu from 1977 to 2000. Throughout its life, it was known for its compact size, efficiency, and affordability. Its name, “Charade,” might suggest a masquerade or pretense, but the car was genuine in its attempt to deliver value and practicality to its segment.

Generations: The Charade went through several generations, each with its own design and mechanical updates:

  • First Generation (1977-1983): Launched with a 3-cylinder 993 cc engine, it was known for its fuel efficiency. This generation included both 2-door and 4-door models.
  • Second Generation (1983-1987): This generation saw an introduction of a turbocharged engine and a diesel variant. The design was more squared-off and angular compared to its predecessor.
  • Third Generation (1987-1993): Featuring more rounded bodywork, it came with a variety of engine options, ranging from 3-cylinder to 4-cylinder, including both petrol and diesel variants.
  • Fourth Generation (1993-2000): This was the last generation of the Charade. Its design was more modern, and it continued with the brand’s array of small, efficient engines.

The Charade’s production came to a halt in 2000. While the Charade name has been used occasionally in subsequent years for rebadged versions of other cars in certain markets, these models didn’t carry the original Charade’s lineage.

Daihatsu Charade U.S Sales Data & Charts

The Charade was not limited to the Japanese market. It was exported to many countries and was particularly popular in Europe and some parts of Asia. In some markets, it was positioned as an economy car, appreciated for its fuel efficiency and compact dimensions. The Charade played a crucial role in establishing Daihatsu’s reputation for producing small, reliable, and efficient cars. Its design and engineering philosophy can be seen in many of Daihatsu’s subsequent models, even after the Charade’s production ended.

US Annual Sales

Year Sales Units
1988 11,460
1989 15,118
1990 10,630
1991 6,202

US Annual Growth

Daihatsu Charade / Cuore Europe Sales Data & Charts

These statistics include sales of the Daihatsu Cuore from 2000 through 2013 and the Toyota Yaris-based Daihatsu Charade from 2011 through 2013. The Daihatsu brand was officially withdrawn from the European market at the end of 2012.

Europe Annual Sales

Year Sales Units
1997 13,037
1998 12,198
1999 18,418
2000 12,017
2001 6,931
2002 6,794
2003 12,214
2004 12,300
2005 9,256
2006 8,812
2007 8,126
2008 12,929
2009 7,815
2010 3,626
2011 2,782
2012 1,596
2013 131
2014 5

Europe Annual Growth