The Toyota Smart INSECT concept is a single-passenger electric vehicle (EV) that made its debut at the CEATEC Japan 2012 advanced technologies exhibition. The Smart INSECT is a development of the 'COMS' EV produced by Toyota Auto Body Co. The name INSECT stands for 'Information Network Social Electric City Transporter'.

The Smart INSECT concept has facial-recognition technology to detect and authenticate a registered driver with the car. It then opens the doors, flashing the front lights and greeting the driver via the instrument panel monitor. The drive uses voice commands to operate the vehicle.

by Dan Vaughan