00:00Welcome to the video from the Car Magazine Tuning Blog.
00:04Today we're talking about the Miard, a tiny electric car from Japan that fits into the cargo area of a van and costs less than the federal tax credit for electric vehicles in the US.
00:16The Miard comes from the Japanese startup KG Motors and is causing a stir in a market that has previously been considered particularly skeptical about electric cars.
00:25While China inevitably comes to mind when thinking of affordable mini-electric vehicles, a Japanese manufacturer is now venturing onto the scene with an even smaller concept.
00:37The Miard is even smaller than a typical Kaik and, in terms of its proportions, the Citroen Army, which also means that there's hardly any space for more than the driver.
00:46In fact, the vehicle only has one seat and is so compact that it only fits into the cargo area of a Toyota Hiachi.
00:58KG Motors founder Kunari Kuzunoki has a clear vision.
01:03Modern cars are simply too big.
01:05That's why the Miard was developed specifically for Japan's narrow streets.
01:09With a length of around 2.5 meters and a top speed of 60 kilometers per hour, the vehicle is specifically aimed at people who only travel in densely built-up urban areas or small villages.
01:23The battery provides a range of around 100 kilometers, which seems more than sufficient for this purpose.
01:31Since KG Motors was founded in June 2022, around 2,250 vehicles have already been sold.
01:39A remarkable figure for a young company from Japan.
01:44By comparison, Toyota was only able to sell around 2,000 electric cars domestically in the entire year of 2024,
01:51and even the Chinese manufacturer BYD only managed to sell around 2,200 vehicles in Japan.
01:58This shows how difficult the Japanese market is having with electric vehicles and how remarkable the success of the Mi board is.
02:05KG Motors' current production capacity is 3,300 units by March 2027.
02:13But the company is already thinking ahead.
02:17Once the first batch has been sold, it plans to expand production to 10,000 vehicles per year.
02:23The key advantage of the Mi board, the price.
02:30With a starting price of around 6,300 euros, it is significantly lower than a typical electric pickup truck like the Slate Auto,
02:37which costs around 25,800 euros and even less than the 7,800 euros US tax credit that many larger models rely on.
02:45This puts the Mi board in a price range that almost invites impulse purchases.
02:54Perfect for people who are simply looking for an uncomplicated means of transportation for short everyday distances.
03:01Kunoki hopes that the Mi board can change the way people think about electric vehicles in Japan.
03:06In an interview, he explained, Toyota says electric cars are not the only solution.
03:12And because Toyota says it, many people in Japan believe it.
03:16Quote.
03:17In his opinion, too many Japanese people still have doubts about the future of electric vehicles.
03:24Although the Mi it only carries one person and can do nothing more than drive from A to B,
03:29for many people that seems to be exactly what they need.
03:32Simple, affordable and made for narrow streets.
03:36The link to read this article can be found in the video description.
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