Toyota unveiled a concept autonomous electric car for children (5 photos + 1 video)
The other day, Toyota showed off their vision of the future. So, your child climbs into a brightly colored "bubble" on wheels, waves goodbye, and the car drives off to school on its own. No driver, no parents, just a chatty AI on board. Sounds pretty dubious. 
But the company is confident that's exactly how it will be. They even presented this colorful "bubble" at the Japan Mobility Show 2025. The Kids Mobi concept is a mini electric car for children up to 130 centimeters tall, fully autonomous and ready for solo travel. It's still a prototype, but the company promises it will be part of the "Mobility for All" project, where transportation is adapted for everyone, regardless of age or ability. 
A round body made of lightweight plastic or composite, brightly colored to stand out in traffic. LED eyes blink in front, and sensory ears detect the surroundings. The dome-shaped door opens upward, revealing a single seat with fluffy upholstery to create a cocooning feeling for the little one. If you have two children, then you probably need to buy two of these cars, but what if you have five? 
But let's get back to the prototype. The wheels are hidden for safety, and cameras and sensors monitor the road, pedestrians, and obstacles. The autopilot controls speed, turns, and braking. According to the developers, everything is powered by AI from the Toyota AI x Robotics Data Center.
And now the star of the show: UX Friend, an AI companion that turns every ride into an adventure. As soon as the child is buckled in, the "friend" comes to life. It chats, tells stories, and plays games.
Toyota says this isn't just a car, but "personal mobility for children," safer than a school bus.
There are no production dates; testing with real children is still being decided by local authorities. In Japan, they're already considering legislation for such "children's pods." Next to Mobi at the show was Chibibo, a four-legged backpack-carrying robot that can climb stairs.
Toyota may be looking to the future, but one AI glitch, one drunk driver, one hacker... and what are parents supposed to do then? In short, the idea is cool, but unlikely in today's reality. Maybe only in Japan.
