The 2023 Tokyo auto display is chock stuffed with new idea automobiles and manufacturing fashions, however possibly none as novel because the Toyota Kayoibako idea.

The Kayoibako is an electrical van that, at about 157 inches lengthy and on a 110.2-inch wheelbase, is as regards to the duration of a Mini Cooper. Fittingly, the phrase Jap phrase “kayoibako” refers to transport bins with reconfigurable inserts for various makes use of, and sized for environment friendly use of house.

Toyota Kayoibako idea

Like its namesake, the Toyota Kayoibako used to be designed with performance packaging that will also be tailored to plenty of other makes use of, in step with Toyota. This contains the whole thing from last-mile deliveries to shuttle-bus services and products, the automaker stated in a press free up. The van will also be supplied with show cabinets, permitting it to function a cellular store.

The Kayoibako used to be additionally designed to be used as a personal passenger automobiles, together with more straightforward wheelchair get entry to, Toyota claims. And in contrast to the smaller kei trucks offered in Japan, it is simply sufficiently big to be viable within the U.S. and Europe. The nearest comparability will be the first-generation Scion xB from Toyota’s defunct “adolescence” emblem. However the Kayoibako has extra inner house, and the added software of sliding doorways.

Toyota Kayoibako idea

This van wasn’t the one small automobile Toyota unveiled on the Tokyo display. It additionally published the EPU, an electrical truck that is compact or midsize via U.S. requirements. Rival Nissan, in the meantime, confirmed its Hyper Tourer idea, which reimagines the minivan round solid-state batteries. And the Mitsubishi D:X idea hints at a long term plug-in hybrid model of the automaker’s Jap-market Delica minivan.

The Kayoibako do not have a lot pageant within the U.S. Startup Canoo has a equivalent concept for a multipurpose electrical van, however its design is way better. Any other startup, Telo Vans, has a van variant of its efficiency-focused electrical pickup in thoughts. Telo sees the U.S. as a marketplace with an untapped call for for the sort of fashion.