BYD to unveil its own kei car at Japan Mobility Show 2025

Here’s something that we weren’t expecting from the Japan Mobility Show 2025. With all the Japanese brands making big debuts of either updates to existing nameplates or concept cars, BYD will be making a statement in Japan by targeting a segment that only exists within Japan: kei cars.

Kei cars are the smallest category of vehicles that are still expressway-legal, with limitations in dimensions and engine displacement (though recently, also in power thanks to the rise of electrification). These are perfect for the tiny streets of Tokyo and other prefectures, and also come with benefits such as lower tax rates and discounts on expressways.

At the moment, BYD’s smallest car, the Seagull, is slightly bigger than the maximum allowed dimensions and power output, meaning that BYD had to develop a brand-new vehicle from the ground up that complies with Japan’s kei car standards.

Based on the shadowy teaser released by BYD Japan, it pretty much resembles every other kei van out there with its small, stocky proportions. BYD’s newest mini EV will utilize its own blade battery, and that’s about all the information released.

We will be on site at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, so stay tuned for our further updates on the new BYD kei car.

^{Photo from BYD Japan}