The “mibot,” a small one-seater electric mobility vehicle developed by KG Motors, a venture company in Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, has been met with a response that exceeded expectations. Reservations began on August 23 and achieved 300 reservations in just three days, and 1,000 reservations in about a month.
The mibot is a four-wheeled EV that meets the standards of a miniature moped. It is compact, with a total length of 2,490 mm, total width of 1,130 mm, and total height of 1,465 mm, but is spacious enough for one person to ride. It has a maximum speed of 60 km/h and can travel 100 km on a single charge. It is also highly convenient, as it only takes about five hours to charge with a household AC 100V power source.
The price is 1 million yen including tax. At first glance, it may seem expensive, but it has an overwhelming advantage in terms of maintenance costs. According to KG Motors’ calculations, the maintenance cost for a year of driving 10,000 km is about 18,000 yen. This is an astonishingly low cost, about one-tenth of the annual maintenance cost of a minicar, which is about 168,000 yen.
The mibot is characterized by its fusion of a retro, nostalgic design and advanced functions. It features two round headlights and a transparent glass roof, and the interior is equipped with air conditioning, seat heaters, and a display monitor as standard. There is also a luggage compartment that can carry up to 45 kg of luggage.
New mobility possibilities to support the future of rural areas
Kazunari Kusunoki, CEO of KG Motors, has an unusual background, having originally published his EV development on a YouTube channel called “Kussun Garage Motors.” Kusunoki says that the development of the mibot is based on his desire to “support the future of rural areas.”
Currently in Japan, statistics show that about 70% of car travel distances are less than 10km, and about 70% of passengers are alone. Meanwhile, public transportation in regional cities is declining, making it difficult to move freely without a car. In light of this situation, KG Motors has found a need for an ultra-compact EV that is suitable for one person and specialized for short-distance travel. In a survey of those
who reserved the mibot, about 94% said they were using it for personal use, and the most common reason for purchasing was “because I’m excited about a new vehicle” (about 33.9%). This result shows that the mibot is creating new demand and value that is different from the traditional corporate market.
KG Motors will start production of the mibot in the fall of 2025, aiming for full-scale mass production of 300 units in the first year and 3,000 units in fiscal 2026. In addition, the company is looking to produce 100,000 units per year in the future, and Mr. Kusunoki is enthusiastic about the project, saying, “We want to create a model that will be loved globally for a long time, like the Honda Super Cub.”
