An Adorable Electric Kei Van is Planning to Come to the United States

HW Electro, a new Japanese company, is aiming to become the first manufacturer of electric vehicles in Japan’s competitive commercial kei car segment. Their debut model, the Puzzle, is a battery-electric van that adheres to Japan’s strict kei car specifications, but they also have aspirations to bring it to the North American market.

Unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show in October, the Puzzle made its way to New York for a publicity shoot, solidifying HW Electro’s intentions for U.S. sales. The company even released a promotional video featuring the Puzzle driving around the streets of New York City.

In terms of design, the Puzzle offers maximum interior space with its flat sides and utilizes a large solar panel on the roof. Its exterior panels are swappable for different color combinations and materials, and the interior features pegboard-like holes for modular configurability.

Beyond its innovative design, HW Electro plans to deploy the Puzzle into disaster zones due to its integration of multiple 100v AC and USB outlets, a charging port, first-aid kits, and a large crowbar in the rear storage compartment. The vehicle is reported to have a lithium iron phosphate battery providing a 125-mile range while adhering to the kei car spec of being no more than 134 inches long, 58.3 inches wide, and 78.7 inches high.

Currently, the Puzzle prototype only accommodates two seats, but HW Electro may face challenges regarding the 25% tariff imposed by the decades-old chicken tax on light commercial trucks in the U.S. However, the company’s well-designed and functional approach to the Puzzle could potentially propel it into the American market, following in the footsteps of other successful Japanese truckmakers.