Osamu Fujishita
DaihatsuDevelopment lead / Development team member
Developed ABS and evaluated vehicle dynamics in the Testing Department, and as chief engineer of the second-generation Copen set out a "low-inertia, lively sports" car
Timeline
- 1984
Joined
Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd. Testing Department
- 2011
Chief Engineer, new Copen
- 2014
Copen 2nd generation2014–2026Development lead
Development frozen three months after taking over
On Time Day (June 10), Fujishita was called in by the company and asked whether he would take on the role of Copen chief engineer, and he accepted on the spot. But the fundamental concept of the new Copen had not been decided: whether to continue the sporty direction or make it a driving-focused sports car. Of the roughly four and a half years of development, three were spent on discussion, and three months after he took over, development was even frozen once. It resumed in February of the following year.
"Kibikibi" is banned
To team members who were feeling down, Fujishita first rejected keeping the old concept, and set out the theme of a "low-inertia, lively sports car": lightweight with excellent dynamics. He decided on four points the driver should be able to feel, and made "kibikibi," a word for nimble handling, a banned word for the development team. For people to experience it as a fun sports car, it had to be a forgiving car they could drive with confidence. He told them never to say "kibikibi" again.
"Four changes"
In launching the new Copen, what Fujishita urged inside and outside the company was "four changes". He believed that unless Daihatsu fundamentally changed its usual ways in four areas, namely design and development, manufacturing, sales and promotion, and communication with customers, a kei open sports car would not sell, and there would be no point in selling it. The answer for design was DRESS-FORMATION, which lets owners swap the outer panels, and the answer for manufacturing was the "Copen Factory" for small-volume production. In June of the launch year, a directly run base, "Copen Local Base", opened near Yuigahama beach in Kamakura, and Fujishita himself connected with customers on Facebook to hear their opinions directly.
- 2016
Move Canbus 1st generation2016–2022Development team member
Connections
Profile
From Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. Chief engineer of the second-generation Copen. He was appointed chief engineer of the new Copen.
Translated from Japanese sources.
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