Small Toyota Sub-Brand Kei Truck Turned Into a Home on Wheels

Japan is the birthplace of the kei car segment. These tiny vehicles — measuring up to 11.2 feet in length — feature limited engine displacement and output, yet remain hugely popular across the country. Recently, they have increasingly been transformed into compact camper vans.

One such project was developed by Japanese company Direct Cars, which converted the rear of a kei truck into the equivalent of a small hotel room on wheels. The base vehicle is the Daihatsu Hijet, a light-duty truck produced by Daihatsu, a subsidiary of Toyota. The living module is accessed through a rear entry door equipped with a powered step.

Despite its compact footprint, the camper’s interior is impressively equipped. The kitchen area includes everything needed for cooking and food storage: a sink, a microwave, and a 9.2-gallon refrigerator. Multiple upper and lower cabinets provide space for dishes and supplies.

The lounge area with a table can easily convert into a large bed at night, complemented by an additional sleeping space in the over-cab section above the driver’s compartment.

Entertainment is handled by a TV, while climate control is provided by air conditioning and a heater. USB ports are installed throughout the cabin for charging electronic devices.

The only notable omissions inside this tiny rolling hotel room are a toilet and shower — though fitting them into such a small space would have been unrealistic.

All onboard appliances are powered by a 100Ah lithium-ion battery, which can be upgraded to 200Ah and supplemented with a 100-watt rooftop solar panel.

In Japan, pricing for the new Direct Cars camper starts at approximately $28,535 and goes up to about $38,870.