After its initial introduction on September 2023, the Honda Motocompacto finally made its debut at the 2023 Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo.

Undeniably, it is the electric-powered reincarnation of Honda’s 50cc, two-stroke foldable mini scooter, the Motocompo. This was sold as an accessory option for Honda automobiles (City and Today) back in the early '80s.

While both were designed to fit in most trunk spaces, the Motocompo was marketed as a spare vehicle, while the Motocompacto is presented as a mobility option on its own.

Rideable luggage

As the name suggests, the Motocompacto has the dimensions of a large briefcase.

It is like one of those rideable suitcases you see at airports, only that this one is much slimmer. But don’t let that fool you, the Motocompacto can accommodate riders weighing up to 120 kg and travel a distance of almost 20 km on a full charge.

That’s more than enough range for a day’s commute or for zipping around the campus, provided that you don’t have to take the stairs as the Motocompacto weighs about 19 kg.

The Motocompacto is ideal for those who have yet to secure their motorcycle credentials with the Land Transportation Office because it only has a maximum speed of 24 km/h, which classifies it as an L1a vehicle.

As such, riding this Honda two-wheeler doesn’t require a driver’s license or vehicle registration – just a bicycle helmet and some common sense.

There’s no news yet when we the Motocompacto will land on our shores. But if ever it does, do you think it could hold its own as a mobility option for today's cosmopolitan lifestyle?

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