Obscure electric kei car stirs Japan as deliveries begin
The tiny Mibot has been delivered by KG Motors to its first customers after drawing strong interest and a large number of orders.
Japanese car brands such as Toyota, Honda and Nissan are among the slowest to transition to electric vehicles. However, in a country known for kei cars, there is one formerly obscure brand - KG Motors - that is gradually becoming better known thanks to a tiny electric vehicle.
After opening reservations in Japan in autumn 2024, the Mibot received more than 1,000 registrations in its first month. As of May 2025, the company had received 2,250 orders, accounting for more than half of the 3,300 vehicles it expects to deliver by March 2027. The Mibot is priced at just 1 million yen (US$7,000), less than half the price of Japan's best-selling EV, the Nissan Sakura.
The first Mibot vehicles have been delivered by KG to customers. Photo: Kote
Recently, KG announced that it had delivered the first Mibot on December 30, 2025, earlier than planned.
According to the company, the model is still in the pre-production stage, but it is being delivered with a quality standard equivalent to that of the mass-production models set to launch soon.
KG is preparing for large-scale mass production to begin next April and will continue delivering a limited number of vehicles until then.
The Mibot is less than 2.5 m long and seats only one person. Photo: KG Motors
The Mibot is just 2,490 mm long, 1,130 mm wide and 1,465 mm tall, with a 1,610 mm wheelbase, resembling a golf cart. With its compact design, light weight and low maintenance costs, KG says the Mibot is perfect for daily trips in the city. The vehicle can travel up to 100 km on a single charge and has a top speed of 60 km/h.
The vehicle has just one seat, with a flat-bottom steering wheel, climate control, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment display, and a rear luggage compartment large enough to hold two 18-liter water bottles. Connected features allow the vehicle to receive over-the-air software updates.
It has a rear-mounted 5 kW electric motor and a 7.68 kWh LFP battery. A full charge takes about 5 hours. The vehicle weighs 450 kg and has a maximum payload of 45 kg.
My Anh (according to Electrek)
