Nissan and Mitsubishi are said to be readying an electric minicar to sell in Japan for less than 2 million yen ($18,400) with subsidies.
Local media reports that the two car manufacturers are jointly developing an electric kei car using a common platform and battery pack. The car is expected to provide no more than 124 miles (200 km) of range.
Nikkei Asia adds that the price of the car could fall to the mid-1 million yen (~$14,000) mark after accounting for local subsidies in cities such as Tokyo.
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Japan has long had a fascination with kei cars, so much so that they account for almost 40 per cent of all car sales in the country. As a result, all-electric kei cars are set to play a critical role in accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles. The affordable price of the EV from Nissan and Mitsubishi will no doubt help broaden its appeal and boost sales. While no longer in production, the Mitsubishi i-MiEV was also classified as a minicar in Japan but set back consumers about 3 million yen (~$27,585).
A handful of other electric minicars are set to hit the Japanese market in the coming year, including a vehicle from oil company Idemitsu Kosan with a starting price between 1 million yen and 1.5 million yen ($9,195 – $13,792). The C+pod from Toyota will also soon hit the market with a 12.3 hp and 41 lb-ft (56 Nm) electric motor, a 9.06 kWh battery, and a starting price between 1.65 million yen (~$16,000) and 1.716 million yen (~$16,500) for the flagship version.
