Patent filings have revealed the exterior of Emta’s first vehicle, an electric kei car planned for launch in Japan in 2027. The model is expected to compete with electric kei offerings from Nissan and Suzuki, as well as BYD’s Racco. The images show a tall, boxy microcar, with changes from the earlier concept that bring it closer to a practical, production-ready design.
The front end has been revised with upper and lower grille sections and lower fog lights, replacing the concept’s protruding bumper. The lights and grille sit below the hoodline, while the wheels appear less pushed toward the corners than on the show car. The patent design also shows conventional door handles and rear sliding doors, indicated by rails along the sides. At the back, a light bar links the lighting treatment, with a panel above the license-plate recess that could be decorative or an LED display.
A second version adds extensive plastic body cladding and a different front bumper, giving the car a softroader look. The source says all-terrain tires and a modest ride-height increase are possibilities, but Emta has not disclosed drivetrain specifications; a dual-motor all-wheel-drive configuration is only a possibility, not a confirmed feature.
Emta is a Singapore-based brand formed by Chery, Jiangsu Yueda Automobile Group, Autobacs Seven, Gotion and Anest Iwata. Chery is set to provide vehicle technology, while Yueda’s Yancheng plant is slated to build the cars and Autobacs will manage Japanese sales channels. Emta has three further models planned—a hatchback, SUV and MPV—and says local Japanese manufacturing could begin after 2030, subject to commercial success.