Kei Cars

Is there any vehicle more adorable than a sub-4-m Japanese micro-camper van? Maybe a next-gen micro-camper built into a versatile van platform that also works as a commercial goods-hauler and mobile pop-up shop? That's the Toyota Kayoibako.

At the dawn of the current EV revolution, Mitsubishi launched a highway-capable, mass-produced five-door hatchback called the i-MiEV, followed by an electric version of its veteran microvan. Now that Minicab-MiEV is being updated for 2024.

HW Electro has revealed a new light electric concept called the Puzzle, a boxy minivan designed with disaster relief in mind and sporting external power outlets, USB ports, a crowbar and a first aid kit.

One the world's most beloved mini-camper van nameplates has gone full micro. The Mitsubishi Delica has spawned the Delica Mini kei van. It shouldn't be long before Japan's camper conversion industry turns it into an amazingly efficient micro-camper.

With its small size and 4WD, the Mitsubishi Delica is a beloved favorite for adventure van lifers. The new Mitsubishi Delica Mini shrinks that adventurous spirit down even more, to kei size. It promises to make an amazing micro-camper once it's here.

Japanese kei camper specialists continue to amaze us by building homes into the tiniest vans. Oka Motors has taken it to another level with the Miniature Cruise Cozy, a micro-camper that transforms to transport, feed, clean and sleep up to three people.

Quite different from other camper vans, even amongs the quirky camping cars of Japan, the Quokka is a delivery van outside, a transforming log cabin inside. The tiny RV surrounds campers in aromatic Japanese cypress and readily adapts to their needs.

As fun as American and European small camper vans are, no one does a proper micro-camper quite like Asia. The latest to grab our attention, the Honda N-Van solo kei camper is about as simple and tiny as possible while still delivering mobile shelter.

With tiny 660cc engines that qualify them for cheap tax and insurance, the Kei-car platform doesn’t seem like a natural place to start when designing a sports car. That didn't deter Honda from creating a mid-engine, rear-drive sports car to fit the strict yellow-plate rules.

Honda's new N Box platform was purpose built for Japanese domestic market Kei car regulations - the idea was to create a comfortable, spacious passenger environment for four adults using the available real estate of a minicar platform.

Bonsai car specialist Daihatsu is to exhibit three new concept cars at the Tokyo Motor Show two weeks from now - a micro sports car, a fuel cell commercial vehicle and a narrow-track, lightweight, tandem two-seater EV

February 16, 2009 Kei cars (from 'kei-jidosha' - ‘light automobile’) are a uniquely Japanese phenomena which began as a tax and insurance break stimulus for