Japan-based manufacturers are often at the forefront of vehicle innovation. From the early stages of the industry to the most revolutionary technologies: Japanese companies are almost always behind it, collaborating with each other and sharing some technologies with others to update their models or come up with variations. Now, it has just reached another level with the creation of AI-driving as one of the features. From supercars to iconic vehicles, all the way to motorcycles: Japan has it all.
The revolution is centered in Japan
One of the most revolutionary features of Japanese cars is the Mazda rotary engine – a small box with pistons in a triangular formation that, instead of moving up and down, moves from side to side while spinning. This gave the cars an iconic sound and more power than ever for street cars with less space than a normal engine.
When it comes to motorcycles, the industry is even more diverse. There is Yamaha, famous for the “R” model, motocross, and also selling music equipment; Honda with the same diversity when it comes to business, creating engines for Formula 1 champions, superbikes, and daily use cars; and Kawasaki, one of the state-of-the-art motorcycle companies famous around the world for its green design. Now, they have taken this to a whole new level.
Kawasaki just created a new motorcycle
Kawasaki Heavy Industries has introduced a new four-legged robot called Corleo. Designed to move like an animal and be ridden like a motorcycle, Corleo responds to shifts in the rider’s body weight instead of using handlebars or pedals. It is powered by hydrogen, has slip-resistant rubber hooves, and comes with a built-in digital navigation system – it uses AI and LiDAR to detect obstacles and navigate its surroundings, helping it move safely and smoothly.
Kawasaki, best known for its motorcycles, first showcased Corleo during the Japan World Expo 2025 in Osaka back in April. The robot started gaining attention again in June after a post from the official account and a Forbes article brought it back into the spotlight.
A CGI video on YouTube showing Corleo racing through forests and jumping over rocks quickly racked up more than 1.2 million views by June 24. “Forget horses. Forget wheels. This thing walks like a beast,” said Tech Lab, a TikTok creator, in one of the viral clips. “Rocks, stairs, whatever. It doesn’t care. Not sci-fi, not a dream. It’s Kawasaki and it’s real.”
The motorcycle “walks” differently from others
Unlike motorcycles, Corleo doesn’t roll — it walks. Its four legs move one step at a time, using AI to adjust to rough or uneven terrain. It moves more like a large animal than a machine, and the hooves are split and padded to help it grip unstable ground. At the Expo, Corleo mostly demonstrated basic movement — standing up, shifting position — but the high-speed galloping shown in the video isn’t real yet. That part was computer-generated. Kawasaki hasn’t shared when Corleo might be released for real-world use, but the company hopes to make that happen before 2050.
There are still a lot of steps before the final product
Even if it sounds like a concept vehicle, Corleo fits into a bigger trend in Japan: walking robots that can carry loads or operate in places where wheels don’t work well — like hills, rubble, or natural terrain. And with its hydrogen engine that only emits water, it might even offer a low-impact way to travel in remote or protected areas someday.
Kawasaki isn’t the only company working on four-legged rideable robots. China’s XPeng has also introduced smaller versions, designed to look like a unicorn or pony, but those are aimed at children. Hydrogen-powered designs like Corleo offer more range and power compared to many battery-based robots.
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