Minivans are making a great comeback. Toyota's new prototype is just the beginning

A prize for anyone who could have predicted the sudden surge in interest in minivans. However, how do manufacturers see the future of the segment, which was already on the verge of extinction?

In recent years, we could observe a significant shift away from minivans in the automotive market. They were overshadowed by SUVs and crossovers, with more and more models disappearing from the market. It seemed the days of minivans were numbered, especially since, for instance, in Europe, the fingers on both hands would undoubtedly be enough to count the available models of this type.

Surprisingly, however, in recent months we can observe a sharp reversal of this trend. Minivans have been presented by Lexus and Volvo among others, and other brands have also revealed similar projects. Toyota is now joining this group, which shows that the return of minivans is indeed becoming a fact.

The prototype named KAYOIBAKO will be shown by the Japanese at their native Japan Mobility Show, with the premiere scheduled for October 26th Eastern Time. It is supposed to be a compact electric minivan, which surprises primarily with its design. That, however, is what concept cars are for - to play with form and check what the future may bring.

- Toyota KAYOIBAKO is a high-quality vehicle for daily transport with large cargo capacity and high usability. The project allows for far-reaching customization of the car depending on current needs, thus the vehicle can fulfill a multitude of tasks at once - we can read in a Toyota press release.

It's worth pausing at the aforementioned words. Toyota indicates packing capacity, usability, modularity, and multitasking. These are the things that minivans have always been characterized by. So what has changed?

Well, the very cars that took the market position from minivans, may be creating a gap for them again. SUVs have moved towards being less utilitarian, focusing on travel comfort and passenger needs. The exceptions are models geared towards the requirements of large families. What about people who want to combine passenger space with utility space? Here, minivans can fit in very well and come back into favor.

Will this happen? The customers will decide, but the movements of Toyota, Volvo, Lexus, and other manufacturers are not random. Sometimes brands catch changes in market trends faster than the customers themselves.