The MiBot, an adorable one-seater electric car, became a true phenomenon even before its official release.
The microcar was developed by KG Motors and costs only 1 million yen (approximately US$6,800). The company had a goal of selling 3,300 units, expecting around 300 pre-orders.
However, so far, more than 2,250 units of the MiBot have been pre-ordered, reaching 68% of the company’s initial target. The manufacturer plans to deliver the vehicles by March 2027 and has therefore had to close reservations.
The success of the MiBot aligns with KG Motors’ ambitious goal of surpassing Toyota in the sales of 100% electric cars in the Japanese market.
Considering that Toyota sold only 2,038 electric vehicles last year, it seems the company’s goal is likely to be achieved.
The MiBot became popular for being an extremely minimalist car, measuring only 2.49 m in length, 1.13 m in width, and 1.46 m in height. It also has a wheelbase of 1.61 m, meaning it has room only for the driver and some luggage.
Its range is 100 km when used at a constant speed of 30 km/h. This should be enough for short daily commutes in urban areas. However, it is worth noting that a driver’s license is still required to operate it.
The car was specifically designed for Japan’s narrow streets, according to Kazunari Kusunoki, founder and CEO of KG Motors.
“Cars are simply too big. Seeing so many large cars driving through Japan’s narrow streets is where it all started for me,” he explained.
With the MiBot, he also aimed to solve another common problem faced by Japanese people: the poor public transportation system. In some regions of the country, it’s so difficult to get around using public transport that owning a car is practically a necessity.
Photo and video: KG Motors. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
