Emta kei car renderings hint at rugged variant, possible iCAUR tie-up

Patent filings have revealed the shape of Emta's first kei car, an electric city vehicle Chery plans to sell in Japan by 2027. Two front-end designs—one boxy and urban, the other clad in rugged styling—suggest the brand may target both commuter and adventure buyers in Japan's smallest vehicle segment.

The base "city" version is a tall, upright package with wheels pushed to the corners, a design common in the 3.4-meter kei class. Round LED headlights sit in square surrounds, connected by a dark band across the front. A body-colored bumper houses circular fog lamps, and a full-width light bar runs across the tailgate. Kuaikeji reports a sliding rear door will ease access in tight Japanese parking spaces. Renderings based on the patents show the car in pale silver with yellow kei plates, a visual nod to rivals like the Honda N-Box and Daihatsu Tanto.

The second design introduces dark grey cladding around the bumpers and wheel arches, a slatted grille with a blank central panel, and a silver skid-plate insert. While the rugged appearance evokes the Suzuki Jimny, the Emta's taller, more family-oriented proportions suggest it is aimed at practicality rather than off-road capability. Both versions share the same platform and body.

The rugged styling has led to speculation that the car could join iCAUR, Chery's off-road-themed EV brand. iCAUR's current smallest model, the V23, measures about 4.2 meters—well above kei dimensions. A kei-sized iCAUR would open a lower price point for the brand. However, the blank grille panel matches where iCAUR places its logo, a coincidence that could simply reflect Chery's design language across multiple sub-brands.

No official images have been released, and the filings do not link the vehicle to iCAUR. Emta is a joint venture in which Chery is one of five shareholders, with Chery supplying technology. The production car will be unveiled closer to its 2027 Japanese launch.