At the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, Toyota introduced one of its most unusual concept vehicles yet: the Kids Mobi, a self-driving electric pod designed specifically for children. The small, bubble-shaped, one-seater vehicle features LED eyes, ear-like sensors, and a canopy tailored for children up to 130 cm tall.
Inside the Kids Mobi, an AI companion named UX Friend interacts with the child passenger, talking, playing, and keeping them engaged while the pod drives itself. Toyota says the vehicle is intended to provide children with a sense of mobility and independence in a safe, futuristic environment.
The concept raises fascinating questions about the future of urban transportation, child safety, and the role of AI in everyday life. While the Kids Mobi is designed to be cute and approachable, its vision of children traveling alone in autonomous pods may feel both exciting and slightly unsettling to parents and observers.
Toyota’s unveiling demonstrates the company’s commitment to exploring unconventional approaches to mobility, blending playful design with advanced autonomous technology. Whether or when the Kids Mobi will become a reality on streets remains uncertain, but it offers a glimpse of how transportation could be radically reimagined for the next generation.
