The Toyota C+pod is our new ultra-compact battery electric vehicle (BEV), a two-seat mobility solution designed primarily for short-distance journeys in urban environments.
Launched at the end of 2020, the C+pod is initially being trialled by corporate users and local governments in Japan, with full-scale production and widespread availability for individual customers scheduled by 2022.
The Toyota C+pod is being produced at Motomachi, the high-tech plant that also produces the new GR Yaris hot hatch and hydrogen fuel cell Mirai.
What is the Toyota C+pod?
The C+pod is now the most city-friendly and manoeuvrable car in Toyota’s global line-up, measuring just 2,490mm long, 1,290mm wide and 1,550mm tall, with a turning radius of 3.9 metres. As a reference, the current Toyota Aygo is 3,455mm, 1,615mm and 1,460mm respectively, and has a turning radius of 5.1 metres.
Powered by a 9.06kWh lithium-ion battery located under the floor, the rigid yet lightweight body offers a flat, easily accessible interior without a sill to climb over. A rear-mounted permanent magnet electric motor powers the rear wheels, its rated output of 2.6kW (9.2kW max) delivering brisk yet stable driving performance with a cruising range of up to 150km and a maximum speed of 60km/h.
Charging convenience
The C+pod is designed for convenient home-charging through a standard wall plug. A full charge can be administered in as little as five hours through a single phase 200V/16A power supply. But the vehicle can also be used as its own power source (see below), supplying up to 1,500W to support electrical devices during power cuts or natural disasters.
Toyota C+pod: design
Modern, friendly and simple in design, the C+pod is unmistakably a BEV yet is styled to retain many of the familiar cues of a city car. The exterior panels are made of plastic to help reduce weight (C+pod is approximately half the weight of an Aygo) and can be specified in a number of contrasting colour schemes, while the interior is predominantly black with a white accent panel around the instrument cluster.
The interior measures 1,100mm across and provides simple accommodation for two adults sat side-by-side. Although this represents 200mm less wiggle room than that available in an Aygo, the uncluttered layout and flat, transmission-free floor creates a feeling of space that belies the car’s physical dimensions. All switches and drive controls are consolidated into the dashboard’s centre console.
Safety equipment
Though small in size, the C+pod offers exceptional passenger safety – equivalent to that of a modern city car. Its body structure efficiently absorbs and disperses impact energy from all sides, while its outer body panels are designed to minimise pedestrian injury.
A full range of equipment is installed to support safe driving. This includes a standard pre-collision safety system that can identify vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, plus intelligent clearance sonars linked to the brakes to help mitigate collisions with stationary objects during low-speed manoeuvers.
Learn more: Toyota reveals ultra-compact BEV range
As silly as it seems, this would be the perfect 2nd car for most of us in the UK!!
I have 30 minute walk to and from my local rail station, that’s fine in Spring/Summer but not so great in Winter or when its raining!
The ability to rent/lease something like this for a fairly small monthly outlay would be perfect for me and far safer than riding a bike….
Hi Bryan,
You’re right!
Thanks for the support.
Do you need a full driving license to drive Toyota c pod car in the Uk.
Hi Jim,
The C+pod is currently not available in the UK so we do not have any information on this.
Thanks.
Jim
When will they be on sale in the uk?
Hi Jim,
We currently do not have any information on this.
Thanks.
Hello
I happily second Bryan’s comments, but from a different perspective. I moved to France with an elderly long-distance cruising car (Lexus GS) so, instead of replacing the bike or walking five miles each way in the winter rain for a baguette or a 15-mile round trip to a pharmacy, an electric car for two makes economic and environmental sense. This Toyota design has the attraction of clearly being a Toyota unlike more bizarre but available alternatives. From where I live on the rolling edge of the Pyrenees it was fascinating to read the statement from Japan that it could be useable in urban or “mountain” areas even if that just means hilly.
Small footprint cars make a lot of sense – not only for ease of parking – but also for access to
charging points. It’s good to see a very distinctive design. A similar approach with the Mini in the 50’s
made it car for all classes.
My last car was an Aygo and it was fun to drive.
Hi Owen,
Thanks for your kind words. We’re glad to hear that you loved your Aygo!
What are you driving now?
Thanks.
I’ve retired from driving (old age!) My Aygo was bought by a Dad whose daughter has gone
to Uni.. That made me feel great, but I still have a current Licence which is a used for ID
purposes only… how boring is that.
I am pleased to see Honda performing in F1 (Red Bull) and having an interest in EV’s
as well as H2. and presumably in Bio fuels in next years F1
Best wishes
Owen
Good Morning Toyota UK
The C+pod would be my ideal next car, as it covers 95% of my journey needs.
Any news on when it will be imported to the UK?
Thanks
Gavin
Hi Gavin,
Thanks for your interest in the C+pod. Unfortunately we have no information on this. We’ll make any new product announcements on here and on our social media channels so keep your eyes peeled.
Thanks
Looks like a Citroen Ami beater in the UK.
Right hand dive, safer, faster, bigger range.
But at what price Mark? Sure it’s better than an Ami but if it costs more than double, as I’m sure it will, the Ami is much more cost effective in an urban environment.
The C+pod is £10,500, the Ami is at least £6000
I drive a smart car and love it for it’s small size and ease of getting in and out of either side of the vehicle. This looks like a perfect replacement. Even better as an autonomous taxi type vehicle.
I’d be very interested in this, range is fun, speed just about enough so it all comes down to cost. Could you suggest to the Toyota bosses that a poll, like Citroen did, to gauge interest might be a first step to seeing them come to Europe?
I have a old diesel van to get to work two days a week I am semi retired so c+ pod would be a good replacement , our second car is a Toyota yarias hybrid. This
Are Toyota likely to launch any micro size right hand drive electric cars/vans, that they sell in Japan, in the near future in the UK marketplace?
Hi K,
We do not have any information on this at this time.
Please keep an eye on our blog and social channels for the latest product information.
Thanks.
Please tell me when the C+Pod will be available in the UK
Hi Peter,
Unfortunately we do not have any information on this at the moment.
Thanks.