Yamaha Plans 2-Seat Car

Yamaha Motor Co. tells The Wall Street Journal it will move forward with plans to build a two-seat commuter car and introduce it in Europe as soon as 2019.

Yamaha's Motiv concept city car

The Japanese motorcycle maker unveiled a prototype of the vehicle, dubbed the Motiv, at the Tokyo auto show in 2013. The car will be about the size of a Smart ForTwo city car.

A spokesman says Yamaha intends to create versions of the minicar for both developed and emerging markets and power the cars with a 3-cylinder gasoline engine, all-electric system or hybrid powertrain.

The original concept was inspired by the T.25 prototype car unveiled by British design house Gordon Murray Design Ltd. in 2010. That car features a tubular frame and plastic body panels. The design firm says its innovative iStream construction system could make the car using 80% less capital investment and 60% less energy than conventional manufacturing.