The fully electric e-Palette can be a shuttle, mobile shop, food truck, sports lounge, or service hub
Toyota has launched a curious new product aimed at “various mobility services.” The Toyota e-Palette is a fully electric shuttle designed to work with autonomous driving hardware and software, and it can double as a mobile shop or service hub. After years of concepts and prototypes, the quirky EV has officially gone on sale in Japan, though its asking price may drop a few jaws.
From Concept To Reality
The project began with the e-Palette concept, which made its debut at CES in 2018. It was followed by a redesigned version, created for the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games. Since then, Toyota has continued refining the design, culminating in the first commercially available e-Palette variant.
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Visually, it retains much of the original concept’s DNA. Its symmetrical, boxy silhouette, tiny wheels, and large glass panels give it a distinctly shuttle-like character. The “friendly” face is defined by round LED headlights, customizable digital signage, and a repositioned Toyota badge sitting above the bumper intake.
For production, Toyota added larger side windows and slim indicators on the windshield frame, while the rear end mirrors the front aside from red taillights and solid pillars.
Fits Up To 17 People Inside
Unlike earlier prototypes that only offered passenger seating, the production e-Palette adds a central driving position with a yoke-style steering wheel and a steer-by-wire system. The cockpit features a central digital instrument cluster, an infotainment display on the right, another touchscreen on the left, and a fourth monitor for cabin monitoring. Essential functions are handled by physical buttons on twin control panels.
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A low, height-adjustable floor, wide sliding doors, and a deployable ramp make access straightforward, particularly for wheelchair users and parents with strollers. Inside, four fixed seats line the rear, complemented by three side-hinged folding seats in the center. Toyota says the cabin can hold up to 17 people in total, including 12 standing, four seated, and the driver. That’s less shuttle, more party bus.
Buyers can also opt for a wheelchair lock system and a large overhead digital display, echoing public transit design. More importantly, the interior layout can be customized, transforming the EV into an entertainment pod or a pop-up store. Toyota imagines it shuttling commuters in the morning, transforming into a food truck at lunch, then acting as a sports viewing pod in the evening while charging.
Autonomous-Ready Shuttle
While earlier prototypes boasted full autonomy (with an operator for safety), the production e-Palette is currently limited to Level 2 driver assistance. However, Toyota stresses it is “capable of supporting automated driving” through optional third-party hardware and software upgrades called “Automated Driving Kit”.
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The automaker plans to conduct automated driving demonstrations with dealers and local governments in Japan. Their goal is to launch vehicles with Level 4 autonomous systems in the fiscal year 2027, which ends on March 30, 2028.
Fully Electric With A 160-Mile Range
The e-Palette measures 4,950 mm (194.9 in) in length, roughly the same as a Land Cruiser Prado. Where it differs is in width and height, stretching to 2,080 mm (81.9 in) wide and 2,650 mm (104.3 in) tall, giving it a much boxier footprint than the truck-based SUV. It also weighs in at a hefty 2,950 kg (6,504 lbs).
Power comes from a single electric motor delivering 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) and 266 Nm (196.2 lb-ft) of torque, with top speed capped at 80 km/h (50 mph). That’s a big step up from the 20 km/h (12 mph) top speed of the Olympic Games prototype.
A 72.82 kWh battery provides up to 250 km (160 miles) of range. Toyota claims the battery can charge to 80% in around 40 minutes with rapid charging, or 12 hours from a standard outlet. Furthermore, the shuttle can also serve as an emergency power source.
An Extra-Terrestrial Price
All of this sounds appealing until you get to the price. The Toyota e-Palette is listed in Japan at an eye-watering ¥29 million ($196,400) before options. This is almost double the price of the GR Supra Final Edition, surpassing even the ¥27 million ($182,800) price tag of the Century SUV flagship, making it the most expensive model in Toyota’s range.
Generous subsidies from Japan’s Ministry of the Environment can cut as much as ¥15,835,000 ($107,200) off the sticker, softening the blow. Toyota hasn’t revealed production numbers, but notes the e-Palette will be built to order, which partly explains the sky-high cost.
Initially, the model will be used in the Toyota Arena Tokyo and the surrounding areas, as well as in the futuristic Toyota Woven City in Japan. Below, you can check out videos of earlier e-Palette prototypes.
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Thanos Pappas, a product design engineer by trade, has been wading through automotive journalism for… Read full bio

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