Daihatsu Copen 2nd generation (LA400K)

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.

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.

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.