All this while, the norm for last-mile mobility has been a two-wheeler, like an electric scooter. But a Japanese company called Curio Inc. wants to rewrite the rules. The CURIO Q1, as it is called, isn’t something you pull out of a car trunk—it is the car trunk, shrunk down and electrified. Well, kinda.
Making its debut at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, the Q1 is described as “neither bicycle nor car.” It belongs to a new category called “specific small motorized bicycles,” which in Japan means you can drive it without a license and even roll it along sidewalks in “pedestrian mode” at 6 km/h (3.7 mph). Think of it as the missing link between a mobility scooter and a golf cart, except sleeker and with better PR.
Developed with technical backing from auto-parts giant Toyoda Gosei, the Q1 aims to make short-range travel—within about 5 km (3 mi)—a lot easier for everyone, from seniors to couriers. Its compact frame measures 175 cm (69 in.) long and 59 cm (23 in.) wide, hiding a 600 W motor and a lead-acid battery that charges from a standard 100 V household outlet in about six hours. Once charged, it can cover roughly 50 km (31 mi) on 120 yen’s worth of electricity.
Curio [JP] says it designed the Q1 with intuitive handlebar controls similar to a car’s throttle and brake, ensuring an easy learning curve for anyone who’s ever driven—or even seen—a car. Stability comes from four wheels, practicality from storage space, and charm from the fact that it looks like something a Studio Ghibli side character would ride to buy milk.
Initially conceived as a safe ride for seniors returning their driver’s licenses, the Q1 has since found potential roles in tourism, delivery, resort operations, and even golf courses. The prototype on display is its fifth generation, refined through real-world testing with local municipalities.
The CURIO Q1 four-wheeled mobility vehicle is expected to roll out commercially soon, with pricing to be announced. Meanwhile, if you read Japanese, you can hit up the product site [JP] to learn more.
Images: Curio Inc. [JP].
