Honda recently partnered with The Pokémon Company on the Honda Koraidon Project, which promised to look at the future of mobility in the shape of Koraidon, a Pokémon character from the 2022 Nintendo Switch game “Pokémon Scarlet.”
The Honda Koraidon motorcycle was designed to recreate the “Sprinting Build” of Koraidon that appears in the game. As the story progresses in the video game, Koraidon regains certain abilities as it travels with the main character, like walking on four legs, running (the aforementioned “Sprinting Build”), swimming, and gliding.
Unfortunately, Honda’s prototype is neither amphibious nor capable of flight. However, it can stand upright using balance control technology, and its hands, legs, neck, and facial movements change as the motorcycle increases speed.
Honda deployed its proprietary self-balancing technology to enable Honda Koraidon to walk on all four legs and stand on two wheels. The technology, which was born out of Honda’s ASIMO humanoid robot research project, first premiered as Honda Riding Assist at CES 2017.
In 2024, the Toyota Engineering Society teamed up with Pokémon to create the Toyota Miraidon, a similar themed motorcycle designed to inspire children. The concept was wrapped around the idea that “adults’ devotion makes children’s dreams come true.”
Honda’s Koraidon Project started in August 2024 with a similar idea, but one that was unique to the Japanese automaker’s style. The project involved some 40 engineers recruited from Honda’s Motorcycle and Power Products Businesses as well as the company’s R&D division. The workers volunteered for the project.