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Is Toyota Avanza made by Daihatsu?

The Toyota Avanza is not made by Daihatsu alone; it is a product of a long-running collaboration between Toyota and Daihatsu, with production primarily managed in Indonesia by Toyota’s local manufacturing network in partnership with Daihatsu’s Indonesian arm. In other words, it’s a jointly developed model rather than a Daihatsu-branded vehicle.


Origins of the Avanza and its Daihatsu tie-in


To understand the relationship between the two brands, it helps to review how the Avanza came to be and how Daihatsu factors in. Introduced in 2003, the Avanza was developed as an affordable family MPV for Southeast Asia, created through a joint effort between Toyota and Daihatsu. The two brands share platforms and many components for this class of vehicle, resulting in a closely related pair: the Toyota Avanza and the Daihatsu Xenia.



  • Co-developed by Toyota and Daihatsu to create a low-cost MPV for emerging markets.

  • Avanza and Daihatsu Xenia are built on a shared platform, with each brand marketing its version in its own network.

  • Manufacturing has taken place in Indonesia, where Toyota’s local operations collaborate with the Daihatsu network to assemble the vehicles.

  • The first generation launched in 2003, followed by a second generation a few years later, both reflecting the shared-architecture approach.


In practice, the Avanza is not a Daihatsu product on its own; it sits within Toyota’s broader product lineup and reflects joint development with Daihatsu, anchored by Indonesia-based production through a collaboration between Toyota and Daihatsu’s local partners.


Current production and market status


Today, the Avanza remains a staple in Toyota’s Indonesian lineup, with the Daihatsu Xenia serving as its closely related counterpart in the same market. The two models continue to share a common platform and many components, illustrating the ongoing cooperation between the two brands in the region. Production has historically occurred at Indonesian facilities operated by Toyota and its Daihatsu partners, underscoring the regional nature of the collaboration.


Twin models and platform sharing


Understanding the Avanza also involves looking at its closely related Daihatsu counterpart. The Avanza and Xenia are designed around the same architecture, and their production is integrated within the same regional manufacturing ecosystem to serve similar customer segments.



  • Shared platform: Avanza and Xenia are built on the same core engineering, enabling cost efficiencies and common spare parts.

  • Branding and markets: Avanza is Toyota-branded for Toyota’s sales channels, while Xenia is marketed under the Daihatsu name in the same region; both target family MPV buyers.

  • Production footprint: Indonesian facilities assemble both models, reflecting the cooperative arrangement between Toyota and Daihatsu in the country.

  • Lifecycle and updates: Generations and updates have progressed in parallel to maintain parity in features and performance within Southeast Asia.


The collaboration means consumers typically view the Avanza as a joint-product outcome rather than a Daihatsu-exclusive vehicle, highlighting how the Toyota-Daihatsu alliance delivers affordable MPVs for regional markets.


Summary


The Toyota Avanza is the result of a cooperative program between Toyota and Daihatsu. It is not a standalone Daihatsu product; rather, it is produced in Indonesia through Toyota’s manufacturing network with Daihatsu’s involvement, and it has a close sibling in the Daihatsu Xenia. The arrangement demonstrates how the two brands’ alliance accommodates shared platforms and joint development to serve regional needs.


In short: Toyota Avanza is a jointly developed vehicle forged by Toyota and Daihatsu, produced in Indonesia as part of their cooperative framework, and not a Daihatsu-only model. The Avanza and Xenia share the same underpinnings, illustrating the enduring partnership between the brands.

Is Toyota Avanza a Daihatsu?


The Toyota Avanza and Daihatsu Xenia are a series of multi-purpose vehicles (MPV) developed by Daihatsu and marketed by both Toyota and Daihatsu, mainly sold with three-row seating.



Are Toyota and Daihatsu the same?


In 1998, Daihatsu became a subsidiary of Toyota, which acquired 51% of Daihatsu stocks, and then a wholly-owned subsidiary of Toyota in 2016, assuming responsibility for the Toyota Group's small cars, including those produced and marketed in emerging countries.



What Toyota cars have Daihatsu engines?


2NR-VE

  • Daihatsu Xenia/Toyota Avanza (2015–present)
  • Daihatsu Terios/Toyota Rush (2017–present)
  • Perodua Myvi (2017–present)
  • Perodua Aruz (2019–present)
  • Daihatsu Grand Max/Toyota LiteAce/TownAce/Mazda Bongo (2020–present)
  • Perodua Alza (2022–present)
  • Toyota Veloz (2022–present)
  • Toyota Vios/Yaris sedan (2022–present)



Is Toyota Ativ Daihatsu?


It is built on the Daihatsu New Global Architecture-B (DNGA-B) platform, which it shares with the latest-generation Avanza and Veloz. The Ativ is offered with three powertrain options.


Kevin's Auto

Kevin Bennett

Company Owner

Kevin Bennet is the founder and owner of Kevin's Autos, a leading automotive service provider in Australia. With a deep commitment to customer satisfaction and years of industry expertise, Kevin uses his blog to answer the most common questions posed by his customers. From maintenance tips to troubleshooting advice, Kevin's articles are designed to empower drivers with the knowledge they need to keep their vehicles running smoothly and safely.