[1] The Hijet competes in Japan with the Honda Acty, Mitsubishi Minicab, Nissan Clipper, Subaru Sambar and Suzuki Carry.

[3] The first vehicle to bear the name Hijet from Daihatsu was a kei truck in November 1960, with the enclosed light van model following in May 1961.

The 356 cc engine produced 17 PS (13 kW), making for a top speed of 75 km/h (47 mph), normal numbers for the class at the time.

The cabover bodystyle approach appeared after the 1950 Volkswagen Type 2, the 1961 Ford Econoline, the 1961 Chevrolet Greenbrier, and during the same year as the Dodge A100.

The ZM I engine produced 23 PS (17 kW) at 5000 rpm and was capable of accelerating the Hijet (truck or van) to a top speed of 85 km/h (53 mph).

[6] The engine remained the ZM 360 cc two-stroke two-cylinder, while the rear suspension reverted to a live, leaf-sprung unit.

In October 1976, the four-stroke Hijet 550 appeared,[8] with the new 550 cc AB20 engine taking full advantage of the recent new kei regulations.

Bigger bumpers meant that all Hijets built after this date are slightly longer, as the 360 received the same external changes simultaneously, including a new front clip.

[12] The two-stroke was also popular in many Southeast Asian markets, where emissions regulations were more lax and its lower purchasing price had a bigger impact.

Export versions, which had to face less stringent emissions requirements, offered 30 PS (22 kW) at the same engine speed and 4.2 kg⋅m (41 N⋅m; 30 lb⋅ft) at 4,000 rpm.

[13] The only transmission installed is a four-speed manual with a floor-mounted shifter; export versions could reach a claimed 105 km/h (65 mph) top speed.

[16] In September 1979, the Hijet Wide 55 underwent a more thorough facelift: A new front clip with a single-piece grille was the most obvious change, while inside there was a new more sculpted dash as well as more comfortable seats which received adjustable backs.

[18] Most mechanicals were originally the same as before, but in March 1982 the S66,[19] a new four-wheel drive (from October 1983 with optional free-wheel front hubs and front-wheel disc brakes) appeared.

[20] From 1982, export versions generally received a torquier 843 cc three-cylinder engine (CD20), called the Daihatsu 850 Cab (S70 series).

The rear portion of the body was developed locally, and the dies were also manufactured in Indonesia, thereby lowering licensing fees and minimizing imports.

[26] This Hijet was the most successful model in the fastest growing segment of the market, and represented one eighth of all local vehicle manufacture in 1983.

[25] In late 1985, the Indonesian-market Hijet received a light facelift, featuring a new silver-colored grille with five small openings on the right-hand side.

There was also a Hijet Climber series (two- or four-wheel drive), these were fitted with bigger off-road tires and a limited-slip differential.

[30] The Chinese-built trucklets were only available with two-wheel drive and the 843 cc three-cylinder CD engine, offering 41 PS (30 kW) at 5,500 rpm.

In September 1992, the Hijet and Atrai received a light facelift, including alterations to both interior and exterior, as well as a number of new engines.

[35] A fuel injected, SOHC 6-valve engine with 44 PS (32 kW) (EF-ES) was standard on automatic cars and optional on five-speed manuals, which otherwise received a carburetted version with two horsepower less.

Appearing in October 1997, the "Hijet IS" was a youthful version with sporty design traits, including a blacked out front panel and various body cladding items.

The new Atrai was focused more on passenger comfort than earlier generations, and has a three-link independent rear suspension rather than the leaf sprung, live axle of the Hijet.

A similar divergence took place in the Suzuki Carry lineup, necessitated by new crash protection legislations enacted for passenger cars.

A landmark was met in December 2010 when Hijet sales surpassed those of the Suzuki Carry, becoming the kei truck market leader for the first time in 39 years.

In Japan, the passenger car version of the Hijet is known as the "Daihatsu Atrai", which is also powered by a 660 cc Turbo engine producing 64 PS (47 kW).

In April 2015, the Cargo received a minor update, changing to a new four-speed automatic and an electronic throttle system (as recently introduced on the S500 Hijet Truck).

[42] In September 2014, the tenth generation Hijet cabover trucks was introduced, replacing the S200 line which had remained in production for a full fifteen years.

[47] It stopped production in November 2019 and was removed from Daihatsu's Indonesian website in April 2020 due to low sales caused by buyers' preference for larger models such as the Gran Max or the Indonesian-built Suzuki Carry.

The Piaggio Porter was a licensed version of the seventh generation Hijet manufactured in Pontedera, Italy, between 1992 and 2021, and sold with diesel, LPG, CNG or electric motors.