Akihabara News (Tokyo) \u2014 Mini Electric Vehicles (Mini EVs) appear poised to play a significant role in the Japanese market due to their compactness and low cost.<\/p>\n
Most recently, SAIC-GM-Wuling Motor (SGMW) announced that its Wuling Hongguang Mini EV will next year become the first Chinese-made Mini EV to go on sale in Japan.<\/p>\n
The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV has clinched the top spot for EV sales volumes in China for the last two years. It has already entered the European market as well.<\/p>\n
Tokyo-based Apatech Motors is being employed by SGMW to conduct market research ahead of the launch. <\/p>\n
The Wuling Hongguang Mini EV is expected to be priced from about \u00a5650,000 (US$4,700), which should make it highly competitive, even for Japanese consumers who may be initially reluctant to buy China-made cars.<\/p>\n
However, this vehicle will not be the only Mini EV on the road.<\/p>\n
The Japan-made Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK X Mini EVs were both launched in May. Both automakers were so overwhelmed by the consumer demand that they have recently decided to temporarily stop taking new orders.<\/p>\n
However, both of these Japan-made Mini EVs cost about \u00a52,350,000 (US$17,000), more than three times the price of the China-made Mini EVs.<\/p>\n
Apart from the price point, Mini EVs may do well in the Japanese market precisely because of their small size in a country where parking space is limited and often narrow.<\/p>\n
One challenge which still needs to be overcome, however, is to have EV charging stations more readily available throughout Japan in order to give EVs greater range.<\/p>\n
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Akihabara News (Tokyo) \u2014 Mini Electric Vehicles (Mini EVs) appear poised to play a significant role in the Japanese market due to their compactness and low cost. Most recently, SAIC-GM-Wuling Motor (SGMW) announced that its Wuling Hongguang Mini EV will … Continue reading
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\nSource: Akihabara News – Mini EVs Prove Good Fit for Japan<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"