Toyota think small for short trips

Toyota is targeting customers who make regular, short-distance trips such as the elderly, newly licensed drivers, or businesspeople visiting customers with an ultra-compact, two-seater.

The new, production-ready Ultra-compact BEV (battery electric vehicle) aims to provide short-distance mobility while limiting its impact on the environment.

It can be driven about 100km on a single charge, reach a maximum speed of 60kph, and features a short turning radius.

The Ultra-compact BEV will be on display at the Future Expo exhibition of the 2019 Tokyo Motor Show, which runs from October 24 to November 4, ahead of the vehicle's planned commercial launch in Japan in 2020. 

"We want to create a mobility solution that can support Japan's ageing society and provide freedom of movement to people at all stages of life," says Akihiro Yanaka, Toyota’s head of development.

"With the Ultra-compact BEV, we are proud to offer customers a vehicle that not only allows for greater autonomy, but also requires less space, creates less noise and limits environmental impact."

Toyota is pairing its planned launch of the two-seater with a new business model that aims to promote the wider adoption of battery electric vehicles in general.