Minicar is Japan’s best-selling EV

A minicar has emerged as the best-selling electric vehicle (EV) in Japan so far this year, accounting for about half of all sales of zero-emissions models.

Nissan’s Sakura – jointly developed with Mitsubishi Motors, which sells it as the eK X – falls into a class of minicars known as kei. The models have sold 35,099 units in 2023, according to industry data.

With better fuel economy and lower taxes than larger vehicles, the cars are popular with people living outside major cities, where public transportation is sparse, reports Bloomberg.

The Sakura, pictured, and ek X have a price tag of ¥2 million, or about NZ$22,800, which includes government subsidies. 

With a range of about 180km, they are leading the way in an otherwise subdued EV market where fully electric vehicles made up only 1.5 per cent of new-car sales in Japan last year.

Suzuki, along with Toyota and its subsidiary Daihatsu, are planning to introduce a commercial EV minicar targeting Japan’s business market by March next year and Honda is scheduled to introduce one in 2024, notes Bloomberg.

The Sakura and eK X have found success in their domestic market but the models aren’t sold globally for a number of reasons, including their inability to meet the collision standards of some countries.