This $7,000 single-seat electric car has become a hit in Japan
 

Driving your car in towns and cities can be stressful. There's often a lot of traffic, it's hard to find parking and you might even have a "back seat driver" — a passenger who gives you unwanted advice!

A new electric car made by Japanese company KG Motors can't solve all those problems, but it might just be able to help.

For one thing, it's only got one seat — so you won't have any back seat drivers!

Called Mibot, this 2.5-meter-long vehicle isn't designed for highways — its top speed is just 60 kilometers per hour. Instead, it's meant for travel around the smaller streets of a busy town or city.

The founder and CEO of KG Motors, Kazunari Kusunoki, said he saw too many really big cars driving on Japan's streets. So he tried to make his vehicle as small and cheap as possible.

And the price of the vehicle is certainly appealing — customers were able to preorder a Mibot for just 1 million yen including taxes. That's less than $7,000!

Japan's bestselling electric vehicle (EV), the Nissan Sakura, costs at least $15,000.

Another advantage of the Mibot is that, according to KG Motors, it doesn't need a special charger — it can use a regular 100-volt socket.

At the moment, the Mibot looks like it could be even more popular than EVs made by much bigger car companies. According to Bloomberg, Toyota sold about 2,000 EVs in Japan during 2024. Meanwhile, 3,300 Mibots have already been preordered!

The first Mibots should be ready in March 2026.

Source: https://eikaiwa.dmm.com/ 

Comprehension

What is the name of the new electric car made by KG Motors?
How many seats does the Mibot have?
What is the top speed of the Mibot?
Why was the Mibot created?
How much does it cost to preorder a Mibot in yen and in U.S. dollars?
How does the price of the Mibot compare to the Nissan Sakura?
What kind of charger does the Mibot use?
How many Mibots have already been preordered?
When will the first Mibots be ready?
How many EVs did Toyota sell in Japan in 2024?

Discussion

What do you think of the idea of a one-seater car? Would you want one? Why or why not?
Do you think small electric cars are a good solution for city traffic?
Would a car like the Mibot work well in your city or town?
How important is price when buying a car?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of electric vehicles?
Would you prefer a small car like the Mibot or a bigger, more powerful one?
How do you usually get around in your daily life — by car, bus, train, or on foot?
Have you ever had a “backseat driver”? How did you feel?
What do you think cars will be like in 20 years?
Do you think electric cars will replace gas-powered cars completely one day?

Vocabulary

Electric car (EV) – A car that runs on electricity instead of gasoline.
Backseat driver – A passenger who gives unwanted driving advice.
Top speed – The highest speed a vehicle can go.
Preorder – To order a product before it is officially available.
Appealing – Attractive or interesting.
Socket – A place where you plug in a device to get electricity.
Highway – A main road where vehicles travel at high speed.
Founder – The person who starts a company or organization.
Vehicle – A machine used for transporting people or goods, like a car or bus.