By Jordan Grim • November 01, 2025 • 06:11 AM (PDT)
By Jordan Grim • November 01, 2025 • 06:11 AM (PDT)
Toyota’s new kid-sized EV makes autonomy cute, while quietly normalizing a future where AI will decide what’s safe for children.
Toyota’s booth at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show was packed with futuristic ideas, from spider-like delivery bots to a six-wheeled Lexus minivan. Yet, among all the tech-heavy marvels, one creation captivated visitors the most: the Kids Moby, a self-driving, bubble-shaped EV designed specifically for children.
Described as a safe, AI-driven personal mobility device for kids, the concept sits somewhere between a toy and a small vehicle. It sports a sleek, pod-shaped design with covered wheels and animated LED “eyes” that show expressions.
Sensors on the roof also resemble ears, and the whole thing is reminiscent of an animated character.
The canopy, which looks straight out of a science-fiction sketchbook, opens upwards and reveals a comfortable single seat designed for children up to 130 cm (approximately 4 feet 3 inches) tall. Once inside, the canopy closes and an AI assistant called “UX Friend” activates, chatting and playing with the young passenger throughout the ride. Toyota Kids’ Mobi
While the Kids’ Mobi clearly relies on autonomous tech for navigation, Toyota says children can still participate in the drive, giving them a sense of control.
“It’s not just adults who want to drive and have some time to themselves,” the company explains. “Children also want the freedom of mobility. And just as adults have cars, children should also have a reliable companion.”
Putting a child alone in an autonomous pod might sound like something out of science fiction at best and unsettling at worst, but Toyota argues it could ultimately prove safer than a traditional school bus.
For now, the Kids’ Mobi exists only as a concept, but it reflects what the automaker describes as the ultimate vision of its AI x Robotics Data Center. This means the idea will continue to evolve even after the show ends. Still, this project is the “ultimate goal” of the automaker’s AI x Robotics Data Center, so development will continue.
Until the Kids’ Mobi is ready to hit the road (or, more likely, bike lanes and sidewalks), visitors to the Japan Mobility Show can get a closer look at it and take a photo with it. Toyota will also give every child an original keychain as a souvenir.
Interestingly, the show also features another Toyota concept in its 2025 lineup that could serve as a helpful companion for young children.
The Chibibo is a four-legged robot that walks alongside people and vehicles and acts as a last-mile delivery solution. As shown in the official renderings, it could help a child carry their backpack, lunchbox, or anything else that might be too heavy for them. The spider-like design allows the robot to navigate narrow alleys and climb stairs, enabling it to deliver parcels to places where vehicles cannot go. When it’s not working, it sits in a relaxed posture, like a loyal robotic pet.
