Europe Looks to Japan’s Kei Cars as EU Moves to Promote Small EVs

Even earlier than the framework is formally adopted, momentum for compact EVs is already constructing throughout Europe, with automakers showcasing a variety of small electrical fashions on the Brussels Motor Show held in January 2026, elevating the query of whether or not the brand new requirements may grow to be a tailwind for Japanese producers that already promote kei-sized EVs.

Arriving on the Brussels Motor Show, one of many first issues that stands out amid the crowds is the prominence of compact EVs on show, together with a mannequin known as “Topolino,” named after the Italian phrase for “little mouse,” evoking the texture of driving a kei truck-sized automobile. From a Japanese perspective, such automobiles may provide a aggressive benefit.

This report brings collectively behind-the-scenes footage and interviews from a section aired on TV Tokyo’s World Business Satellite on January 12, with commentary from TV Tokyo’s London bureau correspondent Tachibana, who explains latest developments in Europe’s auto trade.

The first key level is the EU’s new framework itself, symbolized by the letter “K,” referring to kei vehicles, because the EU strikes to create the M1E class to encourage the uptake of inexpensive electrical automobiles, modeled partially on Japan’s uniquely outlined kei automotive system, with consultations underway to find out the ultimate specs.

Kei vehicles have been developed in Japan in 1949 to swimsuit slim roads and concrete circumstances, with laws limiting automobile size to three.4 meters and engine displacement to 660cc, and their lighter weight contributes to higher gasoline effectivity, tax benefits, and decrease possession prices in contrast with commonplace passenger vehicles.

While the EU framework has not but been finalized, demand for compact EVs is already accelerating throughout Europe, prompting a better take a look at how this pattern is enjoying out on the bottom, significantly on the Brussels Motor Show, which serves because the second focus of this report.

Held about 20 minutes by automotive from central Brussels, the motor present is notable for opening to most people shortly after press hours finish, emphasizing automobiles which are already accessible for buy relatively than future idea vehicles. The occasion ran from January 9 by January 18 and attracted round 350,000 guests, lots of them households.

With the Geneva Motor Show discontinued in 2024, the Brussels occasion has grow to be the one motor present in Europe held yearly, and compact EVs have been seen all through the venue. Among them was Renault’s newly unveiled Twingo E-Tech, proven to most people for the primary time, which, whereas showing compact, gives extra inside area than anticipated and a large sight view from the motive force’s seat.

The mannequin measures about 4 meters in size and is priced from 19,500 euros, or roughly 3.6 million yen, positioning it as a mass-market automobile. Although barely bigger than Japan’s kei vehicles, the EU’s proposed compact EV framework is reportedly contemplating a most size of 4.2 meters, with the potential for subsidies and relaxed laws additional decreasing buy prices.

Visitors cited worth and security as key issues, as EU security necessities, together with necessary collision-prevention methods, have led to heavier and bigger automobiles, creating challenges in Europe’s historic cities, the place slim, cobblestone streets stay frequent and huge automobiles are sometimes impractical.

Interviews with attendees steered sturdy demand for smaller automobiles, supporting the view that the EU’s new EV framework is catching up with an already present market want relatively than creating one from scratch.

Other compact EVs on show included a two-seat mannequin developed by a Swiss producer, notable for its front-opening door design, permitting occupants to enter from the entrance of the automobile. Known because the Microlino, it measures about 2.5 meters in size, has been produced and bought since 2022, reaches a high velocity of 90 kilometers per hour, and gives air-conditioned fashions priced at round 18,000 Swiss francs, or roughly 3.6 million yen, with ample rear storage for every day procuring.

Although developed by a Swiss firm, the Microlino is produced in northern Italy, residence to Fiat, a model lengthy related to small vehicles. Fiat has revived its historic Topolino mannequin, first launched in 1936 as a small gasoline automotive, reintroducing it as a compact EV with dimensions much like the Swiss mannequin.

These ultra-compact EVs, together with France’s Ami, fall underneath a unique regulatory class, which means their security requirements and remedy might differ from these underneath the proposed M1E framework.

One cause the EU is pushing to speed up small EV adoption is that total EV penetration has lagged behind expectations, main the bloc in December to withdraw its deliberate 2035 ban on gasoline-engine automobiles, marking a big coverage shift for a area that has lengthy positioned itself as a worldwide chief in environmental regulation.

The transfer additionally displays efforts to spice up competitiveness in opposition to Chinese EV makers equivalent to BYD, whereas the ultimate focus of the report turns as to if Japan stands to profit.

Although the EU framework applies solely to EVs, Japan already sells kei-sized electrical fashions, together with Honda’s N-VAN EV and Nissan’s Sakura. According to Fukao Sanshiro, government fellow at Itochu Research Institute, the modifications may work in Japan’s favor, as Japanese automakers have traditionally constructed their international success round compact and subcompact automobiles relatively than mid-sized fashions dominant within the United States and China.

Fukao famous that Europe, like Japan, consists of many cities with slim roads and dense city layouts, significantly in international locations equivalent to Switzerland, France, and Italy, the place massive automobiles are much less sensible, making Japanese experience in compact automobiles particularly related.

However, he cautioned that not all Japanese automakers would profit equally, with the best benefits seemingly accruing to these with manufacturing bases in Europe, equivalent to Suzuki in Hungary and Toyota, which has introduced plans to start EV manufacturing within the Czech Republic round 2028. Nissan’s largest European plant stays in Sunderland within the United Kingdom, although Brexit poses extra hurdles.

Exporting kei EVs immediately from Japan is taken into account unlikely attributable to transportation prices, which weigh extra closely on smaller automobiles, however Japan’s expertise in safety-focused compact automobile design may play a job in shaping future EU laws by joint rule-making.

As an apart, the report notes that across the similar time the EU dialogue emerged, US President Donald Trump, throughout a go to to Japan, described small Japanese vehicles as “very small and cute” on social media and expressed help for relieving laws to permit ultra-compact automobile manufacturing within the United States.

With Brussels typically seen as the middle of world rule-making, a phenomenon often known as the “Brussels effect,” how intently the EU’s new framework finally displays Japan’s kei automotive requirements will stay a problem to observe, Tachibana concluded from London.

Source: テレ東BIZ