I am sometimes bummed out at how Japan is behind in the global electric vehicle race. It’s true that the country has a fraught relationship with electricity generation, and that its automakers need their big investments in hybrid powertrains and hydrogen to pay off. But Japan also gave the world some of the finest industrial design and the best consumer gadgets ever; surely, if it got serious about EVs, it could find ways to meet its citizens’ electric mobility needs in revolutionary ways. 

Well, if the so-called traditional Japanese automakers won’t step up, then the startups will. And one company I’m excited about is Hiroshima’s KG Motors Co. Established in 2022, it’s currently working to ramp up the Mibot, a stylish little one-seat EV, and after discovering it on Instagram (thanks, algorithm) this week, I am completely obsessed.  

Photo by: KG Motor

And when I say “little,” I mean that it’s compact enough to fit inside a large Toyota Hiace van, as is demonstrated in this video below. See, you only think cars like a Chevrolet Bolt are small; in Asia, they do small cars on a whole other level. 

In terms of specifications, the Mibot is powered by a 7.68 kWh battery pack that charges on a 100-volt AC plug in just five hours. Its range is said to be an impressive 100 km (62 miles) at a steady 30 km/h (19 mph) speed, so it can do a lot in daily use. 

That is, if you’re able to squeeze into it. The Mibot is 2,490mm long (just 8 feet), 1,130mm wide (3.7 feet) and a mere 1,465mm (4.8 feet) tall. As a tall-ish American dude who has had trouble squeezing into certain Japanese Kei cars, I’d probably have a tough time in this one—it’s smaller than even those microcars are.

But KG Motors is onto something with this concept. It’s designed to be considered for “the actual state of car use in Japan.”

Photo by: KG Motor

“In modern times, the majority of car use is actually short distances driven by one person,” the company said. “The reality is that many people use their cars alone for daily travel, such as commuting to work or going shopping. This means that even a minicar, the smallest unit of car today, is over-specified for this purpose. This situation cannot be called efficient, and it results in unnecessary costs and energy consumption.”

Photo by: KG Motor

KG Motors says that small, one-seat EVs are part of the solution. Even if it’s tiny, the Mibot is ideally suited for quick trips around town, short errands and other jaunts—almost one step above an e-bike or a scooter, really. And because it’s powered by electricity, it won’t add tailpipe pollution to those errands. It should cost around $7,500 at current exchange rates. 

The other advantage that the Mibot has is that it’s absolutely adorable, in typical Japanese fashion. It doesn’t skimp on some basic comforts, either—it packs an 8-inch touchscreen and even has air conditioning. “It is essential to provide a sense of excitement that makes people want to ride in it,” the company said. “It is necessary to provide an appealing experience by combining various elements such as design, ride comfort, and driving pleasure. By doing so, we believe that it will become a means of transportation that is loved by many people and naturally spreads.” 

Photo by: KG Motor

With more and more people projected to live in large cities and urban areas in the coming decades, e-bikes and other micro-mobility solutions are surging in popularity. Meanwhile, many car companies pay lip service to becoming “mobility providers,” even as they continue to focus on the same kinds of large, expensive cars they’ve always made—even if those run on battery power. Rivian now seems to be one of the few car companies interested in changing this. With any luck, more will join the party.

The Mibot certainly may not be for everyone, but it represents a great get-around solution for some. And the world will need more solutions like this as time goes on. For now, KG Motors has finished its first round of pre-orders for the Mibot, and it hopes to begin delivering the first 3,000 examples in 2026. 

Photo by: KG Motor

Contact the author: [email protected]