by Japanese Startup Introduces Mibot Micro Electric Vehicle
When it comes to compact electric vehicles, the first thing that comes to mind is China. However, the Japanese startup KG Motors decided to offer an alternative by introducing the Mibot – an even smaller urban electric car.
This single-seat vehicle is even more compact than Japanese Kei-cars and is roughly similar in size to the Citroen Ami. The company’s founder, Kazunari Kusunoki, noted that modern cars are too large for Japan’s narrow streets. The Mibot has a small battery that provides a 100 km (62 miles) range, which is quite sufficient for city driving.
“Toyota stated that electric vehicles are not the only solution, and due to the company’s authority, many Japanese believe this is true,” said Kusunoki.
Despite being founded only in 2022, KG Motors has already managed to sell 2,250 units of the Mibot. For comparison, Toyota sold only about 2,000 electric vehicles in Japan for the entire year of 2024. The company plans to increase production to 10,000 vehicles per year, indicating a demand for affordable and simple electric cars.
At such a price, the Mibot could become an impulse purchase for those seeking a simple solution for daily city trips. It is worth noting that the success of this project could change the attitude of Japanese consumers towards electric vehicles, which remains quite skeptical despite global trends.
