Key Takeaways
- Production ends: on August 26, 2026, the last unit of the second generation rolled off the Copen Factory line in Ikeda, after roughly 57,000 units built.
- Distinctive technology: a modular resin body made of 13 interchangeable panels (LA400), a 660cc turbo engine producing 64 horsepower, and a weight between 850 and 870 kilograms.
- Confirmed future: the K-Open Concept, unveiled in October 2025, hints at a third generation with rear-wheel drive already in development, showcased through the Running Prototype 2.
On August 26, 2026, Daihatsu ended production of the second-generation Copen, the kei car roadster that over the years became a benchmark in the "Sunday car" category. The final unit, a Robe finished in Jaune Yellow, left the Copen Factory in Ikeda after roughly 57,000 units built since 2014.
A project born in 1999
The Copen's story begins at the 1999 Tokyo Motor Show, with a 3.40-meter concept featuring an electrically retractable hardtop. Production of the first generation (L880) started in June 2002: a 660cc turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 64 horsepower, a weight between 810 and 830 kilograms, and an "Active Top" that folded into the trunk in seconds. In 2003, sales in Japan came close to 11,000 units. For European markets, a version with a 1.3-liter engine producing 86 horsepower was also introduced, tested at the time by James May for Top Gear, who called it a contender for best convertible while judging it a bit "toy-like."
The modular second generation
After more than 56,000 units of the first series, production paused in 2012, resuming in 2014 with the LA400 generation, featuring a resin body made up of 13 interchangeable components. This system allowed different variants to be configured on the same mechanical base: the Robe, the Cero with round headlights, the Coupe limited to just 200 units, and, from 2019, the GR Sport, also sold through Toyota's dealership network as the Toyota Copen GR Sport. The latter featured a reinforced chassis, forged 16-inch BBS wheels, Recaro seats, and a Momo steering wheel, with weight kept between 850 and 870 kilograms.
The retirement and the next project
The announcement of the Copen's retirement came in September 2025. Daihatsu had already showcased the Vision Copen, a rear-wheel-drive 1.3-liter concept, at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show. In October 2025, the K-Open Concept was unveiled, returning to kei car dimensions with a length of 3,395 mm and a wheelbase of 2,265 mm, while retaining rear-wheel drive. In 2026, the project moved further forward with the "Running Prototype 2" shown at the Tokyo Auto Salon, featuring a front-mid-mounted engine for improved weight balance.
According to what was reported at the time by auto motor und sport, the Copen had been described as "the charming little machine" to be saved for days off, a direct reference to the German concept of Sonntagsauto, the Sunday car designed not for daily practicality but for pure driving pleasure.
