The Secret of the Daihatsu Rocky Hybrid: Efficient and Suitable for Urban Areas

KatadataOTO – Daihatsu Rocky Hybrid was officially launched in Indonesia at the GIIAS 2025 event. The compact SUV was previously launched in Japan in 2021.

KatadataOTO had the opportunity to review the technology featured in this vehicle at the Daihatsu Motor Headquarters in Osaka, Japan (28/10).

Hiroyuki Tokura, Chief Engineer of the Product Planning Division at Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd., explained the development process of the Daihatsu Rocky e-Smart Hybrid.

e-Smart itself means smart electrification. It also expresses a high-quality and affordable hybrid car.

Photo : Courtesy

“The Rocky e-Smart Hybrid is fully driven by an electric motor. The gasoline engine only functions as a generator for the battery,” said Tokura.

He further stated that this format gives the car an EV sensation, without the need to recharge the battery.

He then explained that hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) technology in the world today has three operating methods. The first is the parallel system, better known as a mild hybrid.

Then there is the series-parallel system, used by the Toyota Kijang Innova Zenix hybrid model.

Meanwhile, the Daihatsu Rocky Hybrid relies on a series system technology, with the advantages of a compact design, superior performance, and excellent fuel efficiency.

Fuel savings are claimed to be achievable from low to medium speeds.

This makes the Daihatsu Rocky Hybrid suitable as a car for dense urban areas. Fuel efficiency is achieved thanks to the harmony between the engine, transmission system, and battery.

“We use a 1,200 cc WA-VEX three-cylinder engine that is suitable for this type of hybrid, as it can achieve a thermal efficiency of up to 40 percent,” said Tokura.

The transmission system is also made more compact and lightweight, and is equipped with two parallel motors, one for power generation and one for propulsion.

The combination above also results in a vehicle turning radius of only 5 meters. As a result, the car is easy to maneuver, especially when navigating narrow streets.

Photo : Courtesy

Finally, the Daihatsu Rocky Hybrid is equipped with a high-energy-density Lithium-ion battery. Its capacity reaches 4.3 Ah, yet its dimensions remain compact.

This power storage unit is located under the rear passenger seat, so it does not reduce the overall cabin or luggage space.

The Daihatsu Rocky Hybrid marketed in Indonesia is a CBU (Completely Built-Up) import from Japan. Thousands of customers who have ordered the vehicle are promised to receive their units in November 2025.