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Aftermath of torrential rain in Kumamoto Pref.

Photo taken on Aug. 12, 2025, shows a minicar in a ditch in Yatsushiro in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, following days of torrential rain.

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Car plows into pedestrians in southwestern Japan

Photo taken on Nov. 21, 2023, from a Kyodo News helicopter shows a minicar being transported after it veered into a group of pedestrians in Umi, Fukuoka Prefecture, southwestern Japan, resulting in 10 people being admitted to hospital.

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Fully remodeled Honda N-BOX minicar

Photo taken in Tokyo on Oct. 5, 2023, shows Honda Motor Co.'s fully remodeled N-BOX minivehicle. N-BOX topped the list of best-selling new cars in Japan in the April-September first half of fiscal 2023, with the new model set to be launched on Oct. 6.

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Auto Expo in India

The WagonR minicar from Maruti Suzuki India Ltd. is on display at the Auto Expo in Greater Noida in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh on Jan. 11, 2023.

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Daihatsu's Tanto forecast as 2014 Japan best seller

NAGOYA, Japan - File photo taken in October 2013 shows Daihatsu Motor Co.'s Tanto minicar that is believed to have become the best-selling vehicle in Japan in 2014 for the first time, with sales estimated at around 234,000 units.

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Suzuki Motor releases all-new Alto minicar in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Suzuki Motor Corp. Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Osamu Suzuki stands by the Japanese automaker's all-new eighth-generation Alto in Tokyo on Dec. 22, 2014, the launch date of the minivehicle in Japan.

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Daihatsu 'Copen' minicar to make debut in Indonesia

OSAKA, Japan - Daihatsu Motor Co. unveils the "Copen" sporty minicar displayed at an international motor show that began in Jakarta on Sept. 18, 2014. The automaker has yet to fix a launch date for the sale of the new model in Indonesia.

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Daihatsu launches minicar series with many color choices

OSAKA, Japan - Daihatsu Motor Co. unveils a partially restyled regional model of the "Mira Cocoa" minicar series in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, western Japan, on Aug. 26, 2014. The model caters to customers in the Kinki region that includes Osaka and Kyoto. The remodeled series offers 160 different color combinations for the body and interior components as well as different versions according to 11 regions.

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Daihatsu sports car prototype

TOKYO, Japan - Daihatsu Motor Co. unveils its new COPEN sports car prototype, with its exterior hidden by stickers, in Tokyo on March 31, 2014. Daihatsu says it would prepare several colors and designs for the hood, seats and other parts of the new minicar model, expected to go on sale in June, so that the users can change them as they like.

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Daihatsu sports car prototype

TOKYO, Japan - Daihatsu Motor Co. unveils its new COPEN sports car prototype, with its exterior hidden by stickers, in Tokyo on March 31, 2014. Daihatsu says it would prepare several colors and designs for the hood, seats and other parts of the new minicar model, expected to go on sale in June, so that the users can change them as they like.

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Nissan's new minicar

TOKYO, Japan - Takao Katagiri, executive vice president of Nissan Motor Co., stands by the Dayz Roox in Yokohama near Tokyo on Feb. 13, 2014. Nissan Motor Co. launched the new minicar in Japan that day. It is the second minicar that Nissan has developed jointly with Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

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Nissan's new minicar

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken in Yokohama near Tokyo on Feb. 13, 2014, shows the Dayz Roox, a new minicar that Nissan Motor Co. launched in Japan that day. It is the second minicar that Nissan has developed jointly with Mitsubishi Motors Corp.

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Suzuki's Alto Eco

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows the updated Alto Eco minicar that Suzuki Motor Corp. will release on Dec. 18, 2013. The updated Alto Eco provides fuel economy of 35.0 kilometers per liter, Suzuki Motor said Nov. 19.

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Nissan Dayz Roox

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows an image of Nissan Motor Co.'s Dayz Roox unveiled by Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. on Oct. 3, 2013. The two automakers developed the second passenger minicar model under their joint venture scheme. Mitsubishi will sell it as "eK Space."

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Mitsubishi eK Space

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows an image of Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s eK Space unveiled by Mitsubishi and Nissan Motor Co. on Oct. 3, 2013. The two automakers developed the second passenger minicar model under their joint venture scheme. Nissan will sell it as "Dayz Roox."

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New Daihatsu Tanto

TOKYO, Japan - Daihatsu Motor Co. unveils an updated Daihatsu Tanto minicar in Tokyo on Oct. 3, 2013.

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New Daihatsu Tanto

TOKYO, Japan - Daihatsu Motor Co. President Masanori Mitsui poses in an updated Daihatsu Tanto minicar as the automaker unveiled the new version in Tokyo on Oct. 3, 2013.

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Nissan, M'bishi Motors jointly develop minicar

TOKYO, Japan - Toshiyuki Shiga, chief operating officer of Nissan Motor Co., stands beside the company's DAYZ, a minivehicle jointly developed by Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors Corp., in Tokyo on June 6, 2013. The two automakers started selling the new vehicle the same day in Japan under the brand name of DAYZ by Nissan and eK Wagon by Mitsubishi Motors.

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Nissan, M'bishi Motors jointly develop minicar

TOKYO, Japan - Photo taken in Tokyo on June 6, 2013, shows Nissan Motor Co.'s DAYZ, a minivehicle jointly developed by Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. The two automakers started selling the new vehicle the same day in Japan under the brand name of DAYZ by Nissan and eK Wagon by Mitsubishi Motors.

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Nissan, M'bishi start manufacturing jointly developed minicar

KURASHIKI, Japan - Toshiyuki Shiga (L), chief operating officer of Nissan Motor Co., and Osamu Masuko, president of Mitsubishi Motors Corp., shake hands during a press conference in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, on May 20, 2013. The two automakers started manufacturing the same day a jointly developed minivehicle that will be introduced on June 6 across Japan.

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Suzuki's cumulative minivehicle sales top 20 mil. units

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows the first model of the Alto minicar, released in 1979 by Suzuki Motor Corp. The company said Sept. 13, 2012, its cumulative domestic sales of minivehicles with engines of up to 660 cc had topped 20 million units the previous day, becoming the first carmaker to pass the threshold.

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Mitsubishi's minicar-class commercial EV

TOKYO, Japan - Mitsubishi Motors Corp. President Osamu Masuko stands next to the MINICAB-MiEV, a minicar-class commercial electric vehicle, in Tokyo on Nov. 24, 2011. The automaker will launch the vehicle in Japan on Dec. 8 as the second product in its next-generation EV lineup.

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Honda aims to double minicar sales

TOKYO, Japan - Honda Motor Co. President Takanobu Ito speaks during an interview with Kyodo News in Tokyo on Feb. 24, 2011. Ito said the automaker aims to almost double its minivehicle sales to 300,000 units in the next five years.

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Suzuki's WagonR

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows Suzuki Motor Corp's WagonR, which was the top-selling minicar in 2010 in Japan. The compact car maintained its leadership in the market for vehicles with engines of up to 660 cc for the seventh consecutive year, industry sources said Jan. 6, 2011, with about 195,000 units sold in 2010.

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Nissan, Mitsubishi Motors to form minicar venture

TOKYO, Japan - Nissan Motor Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn (L) and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. President Osamu Masuko shake hands after a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 14, 2010. The two automakers announced a comprehensive tie-up agreement to form a joint venture for the development of minivehicles for the Japanese market.

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Nissan, Mitsubishi Motors to form minicar venture

TOKYO, Japan - Nissan Motor Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn (L) and Mitsubishi Motors Corp. President Osamu Masuko attend a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 14, 2010. The two automakers announced a comprehensive tie-up agreement to form a joint venture for the development of minivehicles for the Japanese market.

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Nissan, Mitsubishi Motors to form minicar venture

TOKYO, Japan - Nissan Motor Co. President and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn (L) pours water for Mitsubishi Motors Corp. President Osamu Masuko during a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 14, 2010. The two automakers announced a comprehensive tie-up agreement to form a joint venture for the development of minivehicles for the Japanese market.

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Suzuki launches 7th-generation Alto minicar

TOKYO, Japan - Suzuki Motor Corp. Chairman Osamu Suzuki poses with his company's seventh-generation Alto minivehicle at a Tokyo hotel Dec. 16, 2009. The new automobile features improved mileage and greater interior space.

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Suzuki's WagonR remains best-selling car for 5th year

TOKYO, Japan - Photo shows Suzuki Motor Corp.'s WagonR minicar which remained Japan's best-selling vehicle for the fifth straight year in just-ended fiscal 2008.

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Honda to release all-new Life minicar on Nov. 7.

TOKYO, Japan - Honda Motor Co. President Takeo Fukui stands by the company's new Life G type minicar during a presentation at a hotel in Tokyo on Nov. 6. Honda will release the new Life minica in three variations on Nov. 7 after making a full model changeover for the first time in five years.

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Suzuki Motor releases all-new Wagon R minicar

TOKYO, Japan - Suzuki Motor Corp. on Sept. 25 launched a new version of the Wagon R minicar, the bestselling vehicle in Japan, for the first time in some five years. The fourth-generation Wagon R features a wider interior space and higher fuel efficiency.

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Suzuki WagonR, Japan's best-selling vehicle for 4th year

TOKYO, Japan - The Suzuki WagonR minicar, Japan's best-selling vehicle for the fourth straight year in fiscal 2007 with sales up 1.5 percent from the previous year to 224,082 units, according to industry data released April 4. Minicars are equipped with engines of up to 660 cc.

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Daihatsu aims to grab minicar market leadership with new Mira

TOKYO, Japan - Daihatsu Motor Co. President Teruyuki Minoura poses for photos with a new line of its Mira minicar released on Dec. 18, which was fully remodeled for the first time in four years.

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Mitsubishi's 'i' minicar selected as RJC Car of the Year

TOKYO, Japan - Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s ''i'' minicar was presented with the RJC Car of the Year award for 2007 on Nov. 15 by the Automotive Researchers' & Journalists' Conference of Japan which favored its novel, rounded design and roomy interior.

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Fuji Heavy debuts Subaru Stella minicar targeted at women

TOKYO, Japan - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. President Kyoji Takenaka stands besides the Subaru Stella the company released on June 14.

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Minicar breaks through checkpoint at Narita airport

NARITA, Japan - Photo shows the second security checkpoint at the Narita airport whichaA minicar broke through and forced its way into the airport premises on May 9. Airport police have not yet caught the vehicle and found no traces of it entering runways or aircraft parking aprons, they said.

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Nissan begins selling remodeled Moco E minicar

TOKYO, Japan - Toshiyuki Shiga, co-chairman of Nissan Motor Co., poses with the company's remodeled Moco E minicar at Nissan's head office in Tokyo on Feb. 1. The minicar features plenty of curves in its exterior design and a fuel economy of 21 kilometers per liter of gasoline.

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Mitsubishi Motors launches 'i' minicar, targeting baby boomers

TOKYO, Japan - Mitsubishi Motors Corp. President Osamu Masuko poses beside a new minicar named ''i'' his company launched on Jan. 24 as part of its business rehabilitation efforts, mainly targeting baby boomers who will retire over the next few years. Masuko said how to respond to the upcoming mass retirements of baby boomers will be key to the restructuring of the struggling automaker.

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Suzuki releases all-new MR Wagon minicar

TOKYO, Japan - Suzuki Motor Corp. Chairman Osamu Suzuki (L) and President Hiroshi Tsuda (R) flank, at a Tokyo hotel, a fully remodeled MR Wagon minicar the company released Jan. 20. The new minicar targets women in their 20s and 30s who are raising young children.

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Fuji Heavy unveils electric car that uses lithium-ion battery

TOKYO, Japan - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. President Kyoji Takenaka unveils in Tokyo on Aug. 18 a Subaru R1e electric minicar concept model that uses high-performance lithium-ion batteries the automaker says will help it compete against others in developing environment-friendly vehicles.

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Nissan introduces Mitsubishi-made Otti minicar

TOKYO, Japan - Nissan Motor Co. introduces the Otti minicar made by Mitsubishi Motors Corp. under an original equipment manufacturing arrangement at a press conference in Tokyo on June 7. Nissan said it can now respond to a wide range of customer needs by expanding its minivehicle lineup, which was limited to the Moco passenger car from Suzuki Motor Corp. and the Clipper commercial vehicle from Mitsubishi.

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Fuji Heavy releases Subaru R2 minicar

TOKYO, Japan - Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. said on Dec. 8 it has released a new minicar, the Subaru R2 (photo), which features a round-shape design, light body and high gas mileage. The Subaru R2 employs a newly developed undercarriage, which makes it weigh about 70 kilograms lighter than the existing Pleo minicar. The new car has a high fuel efficiency of 24 kilometers per liter.

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(2)Car rams imperial motorcade

ASAHIKAWA, Japan - A motorcade carrying Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko proceeds on a street in Asahikawa, Hokkaido on July 4. A minicar attempted to ram the motorcade earlier in the day, but a police motorcycle escort blocked it and the imperial couple were unharmed.

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(1)Car rams imperial motorcade

FURANO, Japan - The car that carried Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko during their tour of Hokkaido is parked outside Furano Police Station on July 4. A minicar attempted to ram a motorcade carrying the imperial couple, but a police motorcycle escort blocked it and they were unharmed.

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Car rams imperial motorcade, emperor, empress safe

FURANO, Japan - Emperor Akihito (2nd from R) and Empress Michiko (R) arrive at lavender fields in Nakafurano, Hokkaido, on July 4 following an incident in which a minicar driven by a 35-year-old man, Osamu Koizumi, attempted to ram their motorcade.

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Suzuki launches Twin hybrid minivehicle

TOKYO, Japan - Suzuki Motor Corp. Chairman Osamu Suzuki stands by his company's new environmentally friendly gasoline-electric hybrid minicar, Twin, launched at a news conference in Tokyo on Jan. 22. The Twin, with an engine displacement of 660 cc and seating two, is the first commercial hybrid minivehicle to be put on the market.

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Daihatsu eyes 5.8% minicar sales rise with restyled Mira, Move

TOKYO, Japan - Daihatsu Motor Co. said Dec. 20 it plans to boost its domestic minicar sales for 2003 by 5.8% to 525,000 vehicles on the strength of the restyled Mira (in photo) and Move compacts.

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Ghosn says Nissan aims at 2.8% of minicar market

TOKYO, Japan - Nissan Motor Co. President Carlos Ghosn speaks with the media in Tokyo on April 10. He said Nissan will aim to take 2.8% of Japan's minivehicle market with its first minicar model Moco.

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Nissan launches its 1st minicar model in Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Nissan Motor Co. President Carlos Ghosn stands by the company's first minicar model, the Moco, made by Suzuki Motor Corp. for Nissan, at a hotel in Tokyo's Minato Ward on April 10. The Moco is available with four-speed automatic transmission and a DOHC engine with a variable valve-timing mechanism, or a turbo-charged DOHC engine.

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Suzuki Motor to supply MR Wagon minicar to Nissan Motor

TOKYO, Japan - Suzuki Motor Corp. Chairman Osamu Suzuki announces at a press conference at a Tokyo hotel on Nov. 16 that his company will launch a new five-door minicar called the MR Wagon, pictured behind him, on Dec. 4. It will supply the vehicle to Nissan Motor Co. starting next spring under an original equipment manufacturing (OEM) agreement. The MR Wagon is targeted at housewives in their late 20s and 30s.