Daihatsu joins Toyota’s larger showcase at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, taking part in a series of concept car debuts that highlight each brand’s vision for the future. Among them is the Midget X, a fully electric concept designed to bring one of Daihatsu’s classic nameplates into a new era.

The Midget is a pint-sized workhorse with a big personality. Born in 1957 as a tiny three-wheeler for shopkeepers and delivery drivers, it zipped through Japan’s narrow streets with motorcycle-like agility.

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It returned in 1996 as the Midget II, blending nostalgic styling with a can-do spirit. Production ended in 2001, but it seems Daihatsu isn’t quite ready to let the story end there.

A Tiny Classic Recharged

The all-new Midget X has been reborn as a tiny LCV with an electric powertrain. Daihatsu said “it’s like a bicycle plus a little something extra”, adding that it is “the perfect size for anyone starting something new, whether it’s raising children, running a business, a hobby, or just playing”.

Its exterior design nods to the original Midget lineage, featuring round LED headlights and a helicopter-style windshield. It also has semi-exposed wheels with integrated lights and a battery charge indicator on the profile.

The concept includes a backpack-style storage compartment although this area can transform into an extended rear bed or a larger box for commercial use.

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Inside, the EV adopts a central driving position with an unconventional steering wheel flanked by two passenger seats for toddlers. Daihatsu designers added special touches like the tiny compartment next to the seat that can be filled with biscuits, and other toy-like elements around the cabin.

Another cool feature is the rotational handle design for the rear hinged doors, while a similar mechanism is used for opening the cargo area.

Daihatsu hasn’t released technical specifications yet, only noting that “because it’s small, it can fit into a variety of lifestyles,” and that it “aims to make everyone happy.”

Daihatsu

Carrying the Torch

The Midget X stands as the next chapter in Daihatsu’s story, carrying forward the legacy of some of its most influential models. Among them are the original Midget three-wheeler, the fourth-generation Hijet LCV, the first-gen Charade hatchback, the sporty Mira TR-XX, the Copen roadster, the second-gen Tanto kei car, and the Nibako mobility service that transforms LCVs into mobile shops.

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For now, the Midget X is nothing more than a concept. Even so, it wouldn’t be surprising if it eventually transitions into a production model, potentially for both Japan and export markets.

After all, Toyota President and CEO, Koji Sato described the concept as the “Midget of the future” during the official presentation at the Japan Mobility Show:

“Making small cars is incredibly difficult. As someone who has been involved in car-making, I can say that from my heart. But Daihatsu continues to take on such challenges. Now, as then, Daihatsu’s car-making is staying the course. Going around town to listen to what people are saying… thinking about how to help people when it finds someone in trouble… racking its brain over how it can make the most of its technologies for making things small. This led to the Midget X.”