Meet mibot, the $7,000 tiny EV that’s about take Japan by storm. It may be small, but the mini EV is already seeing strong interest with the first models now being delivered.
The $7,000 mibot mini EV is out for delivery
It’s no secret that Japan isn’t really known for its appreciation of electric vehicles, with Toyota, Honda, and Nissan among the biggest laggards in the transition to EVs.
Japan is known, however, for its tiny “kei cars” that fill the city streets. Kei cars are the smallest street-legal vehicles sold in Japan, accounting for over a third of new-car sales.
The Honda N-Box has been Japan’s best-selling vehicle for the past three years straight, but it’s still powered by a gas engine. Although Honda is reportedly planning to launch an electric N-Box to fend off BYD’s incoming kei car, “Racco,” it likely won’t be until 2027.
Meanwhile, another mini EV is already rolling out in Japan. KG Motors announced that it had delivered the first mibot on December 30, 2025.
The vehicle was still in the “pre-production” phase, the company said, but it’s being delivered with the same quality standard as upcoming mass-produced models.
KG Motors is preparing for full-scale mass production to begin in April 2026 and will continue delivering a limited number of vehicles until then.
At just 2,490 mm (98″) long, the mini EV is about the size of a golf cart, but the company promises it’s capable of much more. Its lightweight design is perfect for driving around the city, plus the low maintenance costs are an added bonus.
The mibot delivers a driving range of up to 100 km (62 miles), which may not seem like much compared to most EVs that offer 300+ miles of range, but it’s more than enough for an everyday commute.
It’s a one-seater, but KG says the mini EV has enough space to fit two 18-liter kerosene tanks comfortably. With OTA updates, mibot will continue to improve and add new functions over time.
KG Motors believes bigger isn’t necessarily better. Kazunari Kusunoki, the company’s CEO and founder, told Bloomberg during an interview earlier this year that “Seeing so many big cars traveling Japan’s narrow streets – that’s where this all began for me.”
After opening orders in Japan last fall, the mibot received over 1,000 applications in the first month. By May, it had secured over 2,250 orders, already more than half of the 3,300 KGT Motors aimed to deliver by March 2027.
According to Kusunoki, the first 300 mibots will be delivered in Japan by March 2026, followed by 3,000 more that will be exported to overseas markets. The mini EV starts at ¥1 million ($7,000) before taxes.
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