MiBot Strikes to Mass Manufacturing, Kicking off an Extremely-Compact EV Revolution in Asia

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Tales of our discoveries of vehicles on bike lanes in Amsterdam could quickly have a parallel narrative in Japan. MiBot, that tiny EV that CleanTechnica reported on in August, goes into manufacturing this yr. CleanTechnica reached out to MiBot creator Kazunari Kusunoki, who can also be the founder and CEO of the Japanese firm KG Motors, to speak extra about this. We’re nonetheless awaiting his reply. Within the meantime, we contacted their media workplace for this up to date report.

Made in Hiroshima

The MiBot, an ultra-compact, single-seat EV developed by Hiroshima-based startup KG Motors, has efficiently transitioned from prototype to manufacturing. This milestone, achieved on schedule within the remaining quarter of 2025, positions the MiBot as a formidable challenger to conventional auto giants within the essential phase of reasonably priced, city mobility.

Following intensive prototype testing, together with crash exams and cold-weather sturdiness trials, KG Motors formally started mass manufacturing of the MiBot in October 2025 at its new meeting facility close to its headquarters in Higashi Hiroshima Metropolis.

The manufacturing course of itself displays the MiBot’s philosophy of simplicity and effectivity. The meeting plant makes use of a streamlined, single manufacturing line with considerably fewer steps than a traditional automotive meeting line, serving to to maintain each manufacturing prices and the ultimate automobile value low. The preliminary supply timeline is very anticipated: the primary batch, comprising 300 items, is focused for supply to prospects in Hiroshima and Tokyo by March 2026. This can be adopted by Part 2, the place a further 3,000 items are scheduled for nationwide cargo throughout Japan by March 2027.

Outpacing giants in pre-orders

The sturdy market response to the MiBot demonstrates a profound, underserved demand for focused mobility options. With pre-orders exceeding 2,250 items earlier than the official manufacturing begin, KG Motors has already outsold the whole variety of battery-electric autos (BEVs) bought by Toyota in Japan throughout 2024.

Priced at roughly ¥1 million ($7,000 USD) earlier than tax, the MiBot is half the worth of Japan’s present best-selling EV, the Nissan Sakura. This affordability is central to the corporate’s mission, making it a viable possibility for rural areas going through a decline in public transportation and an getting older demographic needing straightforward, private transport.

Designed to suit into Japan’s restrictive “unique minicar” classification (a step smaller than the well-known kei automobile class), the MiBot is outlined by its compact utility. It affords a modest 100 km (62 mile) vary and 60 km/h (37 mph) high pace, figures deliberately optimized for brief city and native journeys. The automobile could be totally charged in about 5 hours utilizing a regular Japanese family outlet. Moreover, regardless of its simplicity, the MiBot features a essential future-proofing function: over-the-air (OTA) software program replace functionality, demonstrating its classification as a contemporary Software program Outlined Car (SDV).

KG Motors plans to steadily ramp up manufacturing to a long-term objective of 10,000 items yearly, positioning the MiBot not simply as an reasonably priced automobile, however as a important piece of the puzzle for fixing Japan’s complicated city and rural mobility challenges.