- Toyota unveiled the Kids Mobi, a self-driving, child-sized EV concept at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show.
- It seats one child up to 130cm, with canopy access and a ‘UX Friend’ AI assistant enabling participation.
- Toyota says the concept aligns with its AI × Robotics Data Center, indicating ongoing development beyond the show.
Among Toyota’s futuristic showcase at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, the smallest star stole the spotlight.
The Kids Mobi is a pint-sized, self-driving EV designed solely for children. Think of it as a school run that doesn’t need mum or dad in the passenger seat.
Toyota calls it “safe and secure AI-powered personal mobility for kids.” The pod-like capsule has enclosed wheels, animated LED “eyes” and sensors shaped like ears, which ends up looking more cartoon than car.
A canopy lifts to reveal a single seat sized for children up to 130 cm tall, creating a cocoon-like cabin that swings shut once they’re aboard.
AI that chats, not chauffeurs
Inside, a digital companion dubbed the “UX Friend” greets the little driver, chatting and playing along the journey. Toyota says the system gives kids “freedom of mobility,” encouraging them to feel in control even though the Mobi drives itself.
Sure, the idea of a solo-riding child in an autonomous pod might sound straight from a sci-fi flick, or a parent’s stress dream, but Toyota insists it’s part of a broader push toward safer, smarter mobility. The concept feeds into the brand’s AI × Robotics Data Center, signalling an ongoing project rather than a one-off showpiece.
A robotic playmate on legs
The Kids Mobi wasn’t alone on the stand. Toyota also revealed the Chibibo, a four-legged robot that tags along beside people or vehicles. It can haul a child’s backpack or lunchbox and even climb stairs, crouching down in rest mode like a mechanical pet.
There’s no word yet on specs, battery size or production planss, and Toyota hasn’t disclosed performance figures, but it’s hard to deny the charm or the implications. If today’s toddlers grow up trusting AI to walk and drive beside them, tomorrow’s drivers might never remember a world where humans were at the wheel.
