Collection Online
Search the Collection 搜索M+藏品
M+, Hong Kong
On View
East Galleries, 217
Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd 大發工業株式會社
'Midget' three-wheeled truck, model MP5 「Midget」三輪小貨車，MP5型
1962
The Daihatsu Midget MP5 is a three-wheeled mini-truck produced by the Daihatsu Motor Company Limited, Japan’s oldest car manufacturer. It has two doors and a small open bed for the transportation of cargo. Daihatsu deployed innovative production methods for the Midget series, designing and manufacturing the vehicles entirely in-house, in addition to offering repair services and the sale of original spare parts. At the time, it was unusual for auto companies to assume full control of the manufacturing process. This gave Daihatsu an economic advantage over its competitors. Daihatsu produced around 340,000 Midget MP5s between 1962 and 1972, but the company stopped making the vehicles when four-wheeled mini-trucks gained favour. Beginning in 1961, the Midget series was sold as a knockdown export to Pakistan, and assembled locally. The Midget became extremely popular across South and Southeast Asia, fundamentally transforming everyday transportation in these regions.
Loading