Honda Files Trademark for Motocompacto – Return of the Folding Scooter?
Honda has filed a trademark application for “Motocompacto” with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. If that name sounds familiar, it’s probably because it’s close to “MotcCompo,” the name of Honda’s suitcase-sized fold-up scooter.
The original Honda Motocompo was only sold from 1981 to 1983, with only about 54,000 ever produced. Despite its limited run, the Motocompo gained a cult-like status due to its unique design and concept. Designed to be stored in the trunk of a car, the Motocompo transforms from a compact form into a fully functioning scooter.
Honda’s been on a bit of a retro minibike kick of late, producing a new Monkey and a Super Cub C125. So, why not a modern Motocompo suitcase scooter?
Unlike the gas-powered Super Cub and Monkey, it looks like the Motocompacto will be electric, as the new trademark application lists the intended use as being for “land vehicles, namely, electric scooters.”
Honda has toyed with the idea of an electric Motocompo before, revealing its Motor Compo concept at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.
The Motor Compo concept is nine years old now, and a new Motocompacto isn’t likely to look like it, except in the most general of sense. One feature it might share with the concept is the use of a removable battery. Honda offers an electric version of the PCX scooter in Japan that uses two power packs that can be removed for recharging or to be swapped for fully charged packs.
As with all trademark filings, there’s no indication on if or when we would see a final product. But if the Honda Motocompacto turns out to be exactly what we think it is, then count us intrigued.
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Dennis has been a part of the Motorcycle.com team since 2008, and through his tenure, has developed a firm grasp of industry trends, and a solid sense of what's to come. A bloodhound when it comes to tracking information on new motorcycles, if there's a new model on the horizon, you'll probably hear about it from him first.
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The concept of this type personal transport is great. I know the original is still popular in Japan. BUT, too many things can go wrong. And the only things that can go right are, I arrived safely---it didn't get stolen. And both of those things will go wrong somewhere on the time line, usually at the most inconvenient moment.
Pretty much a non starter for open roads or urban mobility. The electric "scooters" are the direct competitors to these toys, with all the known problems associated. Electric bicycles are an even bigger competitor. These will really have a chance when cities close large areas to automotive traffic and only allow bicycles and individual, speed limited electric vehicles.