Daihatsu dealers benefit from a “true partner relationship, free of the hierarchy associated with other manufacturers” – according to Daihatsu Vehicle Distributors operations director Paul Hegarty.

It’s a set-up he describes as “refreshingly different”, and could account for the network delivering five times 2004 volumes so far this year.

Hegarty says: “At a recent dealer conference some asked ‘where’s the top table?’. We looked at each other and said ‘there is no top table’. That’s not how we do things – dealers have created as much of our market as the product.”

This year’s targets are similar to 2004 and the network is in good shape. There are now just 10 open points around the country. Hegarty says recruitment of 40 dealers in 2004 was unprecedented, and that people now realise used Daihatsu stock is becoming a profitable part of the franchise business.