Can BYD beat the Japanese at their own game?
by Billy Caluag
There were only 533 units ever produced
To say we want lots of cars that only exist in Japan would be a gross understatement. The Japanese domestic market has the cream of the crop when it comes to cars from its nation's automakers: From world-renowned icons to
by Lije Martin
Would you just look at that khaki color?
Rugged-looking kei cars seem to be having a moment in 2026. The Mitsubishi Delica Mini's adventure-themed builds stole the show at this year's Tokyo Auto Salon, while bodykit manufacturer DAMD recently released its take on an outdoorsy Suzuki
by Billy Caluag
The kit also comes optioned with wheels and a roof rack
Japanese bodykit manufacturer DAMD has been known to create some wild retro conversion accessories, specializing in small boxy cars. You may have seen some of the garage's many kits for the Suzuki Jimny. From its Land Rover Defender and Mercedes-Benz
by Lije Martin
The famous kei car now sports three new designs
In Japan, the Honda N-Box has been the top-selling light four-wheeled vehicle for the past 11 years. That certainly makes this kei car a hometown hero, and it's a shame it isn't available here in the Philippines.
by Billy Caluag
Under the brand name EMTA
Electric Mobility Technologies (EMT), a joint venture of several companies, including Chery, has plans to launch an electric kei car in Japan under the brand name EMTA. According to CarNewsChina.com, the launch is scheduled for 2027, with four cars expected to
by Lije Martin
It’s based on the Suzuki Twin
Nope, these photos aren't warped, the cute and compressed R32 bodykit you see is 100% real, and is sold by Pandem Rocket Bunny for P561,000. The vehicle underneath the kit is a Suzuki Twin, a kei car that already looks
by Lije Martin
But will it be enough?
When the Nissan Sakura first launched in 2022, it became an instant hit, quickly becoming Japan's best-selling EV with over 35,000 units sold in 2023. This year, the Sakura gets a timely facelift as Japan's EV landscape gets
by Lije Martin
Can it compete in this highly popular segment in Japan?
BYD made quite a stir when it announced that it has a kei car in the works. A prototype of the BYD Racco-Japanese for 'sea otter'-was then displayed at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show shortly after.While the Racco certainly
by Billy Caluag
There are a few dressed-up Delicas, too
This is Mitsubishi's lineup of cars for the Tokyo Auto Salon, and it's led by a Delica Mini christened the Delimaru Festa and adorned with a giant Delimaru, which it turns out is Mitsubishi's own official mascot for the
by Greg Potts
The joke’s on us
Morizo and Toyota Gazoo Racing pulled a fast one on everyone at the 2026 Tokyo Auto Salon. After teasing a new and customized mid-engined two-seater, Toyota's chairman laughingly announced that the new car is actually a heavily modified kei
by Billy Caluag
The brand has two other electric kei cars in the pipeline
The electric kei car segment seemed to have gained some serious momentum at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show. Chinese automotive giant BYD unveiled the fully electric Racco-or Sea Otter-while Honda brought out the prototype for the Super One. Both releases
by Billy Caluag
Can BYD do it better than the Japanese?
Well, BYD did it. The Chinese automotive juggernaut has officially thrown its name into Japan's kei car segment with the fully electric BYD Racco-or Sea Otter, in English.The Sea Otter's full specs have yet to be released, but
by Billy Caluag
The convertible kei was released next to a slew of other compact cars
Daihatsu has just unveiled the revived K-Open, or Copen, roadster at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show-and yes, it is a rear-wheel-drive convertible. If you were set on buying a Suzuki Cappuccino, you might want to take a look
As well as ‘simulated’ gear shifts and engine sounds
We love us a zippy little Honda hatch, and this latest one making its debut at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show looks particularly feisty. It's called the Honda Super-One Prototype, and if it seems familiar to you, that's because
That’s a very, very bold move
Chinese automotive giant BYD is gearing up to debut its version of a kei car at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show. From the teaser alone, it surely looks the part with its sliding doors and boxy frame, but its functionality will determine
by Billy Caluag
Trust us, it really is all-new
Even though it isn't sold outside Japan, we couldn't get enough of the Mitsubishi Delica Mini. So much so that when we saw it in person back in 2023, we were giddy and excited to see it in the metal.
Fingers crossed they make LHD versions
The idea of officially exporting kei cars isn't an entirely new idea. One shining example of that was the Mitsubishi Minica from the '70s and early '80s. Those tiny Daihatsu Hi-jet vans from about 30 years ago is another one,
A global kei car, finally?
One can say that kei cars are the forbidden fruit of the world's automotive market. Sure, there are a few markets that have them, but these models are exclusive to Japan for the most part. But Honda might soon change that,
Those sliding doors are a bonus, too
Despite not being sold outside of Japan, the appeal of the kei car to worldwide audiences has always been there. Sure, they're primarily for the tight streets of Japan, but these tiny cars are more sensible than they appear, as well
