Mazda's Suitcase Car: A 19 mph Airport Pocket Kart

• Built into a standard Samsonite suitcase, Mazda’s 1990s ‘Suitcase Car’ folded into a three-wheeled pocket kart in about one minute.
• The concept reached a top speed of roughly 19 mph and was intended for first‑mile/last‑mile travel, not racetracks.
• Regulatory and practical issues (gasoline luggage bans, checked‑baggage size limits) stopped production — but modern electric tech could revive the idea.

What the Suitcase Car was

In the early 1990s, Mazda’s internal innovation contests produced a surprising entry: a pocket bike integrated into a standard Samsonite suitcase. Engineers converted the case into the fold-up body of a small three‑wheeled go‑kart meant to help travelers move quickly between terminals or from airport to hotel.

Design and performance

The prototype reportedly transformed in about one minute and could reach around 19 mph — faster than a sprint to a gate and designed for short urban hops. The suitcase served as the shell while a pocket‑bike drivetrain folded out to make a compact, rideable vehicle.

Where it came from

Mazda’s creative push in that era followed successes like the original MX‑5 Miata and the rotary‑powered 787B race car. Internal programs such as Fantasyard encouraged teams to sketch unconventional mobility ideas, and the Suitcase Car emerged from that environment as a practical, if playful, solution to travel delays.

Why it never reached the market

There were clear practical and regulatory obstacles. The original prototype used a small gasoline engine — but aviation and transport rules forbid carrying gasoline in luggage, per FAA guidance on hazardous materials.

Size was another issue: the suitcase didn’t fit under seats or in overhead bins, so it would have to travel as checked baggage, complicating door‑to‑door use. The concept did gain some public attention — Mazda demonstrated it on The Oprah Winfrey Show — but those barriers outweighed the novelty.

Why the idea matters again

Battery and motor miniaturization, plus lighter materials, change the calculus. An electric drivetrain and a compact lithium battery could eliminate the fuel‑in‑luggage problem and shrink weight. Downsizing the mechanism to fit carry‑on dimensions would solve storage pain points.

As airports and cities look for efficient first‑/last‑mile solutions, a modernized, electric version of Mazda’s Suitcase Car could be commercially viable — especially as a personal mobility device for terminal transit or short urban trips.

Watch the original demo

Mazda showcased the Suitcase Car on TV; a historic clip from the demonstration is available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzpk08KTquk