TOKYO - The head of Daihatsu Motor Co said on Thursday his company was not working with parent Toyota Motor Corp on a compact, low-cost car for emerging markets, denying persistent media reports of such a project.

But President Teruyuki Minoura, speaking at the launch of the new Tanto Exe microcar in Tokyo, said he saw a big role for Daihatsu to lead development of small and cheaper cars within the Toyota group.

(Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim)