Suzuki to roll out 1st electric minicar to keep pace with rivals

SODEGAURA, Chiba Prefecture–Playing catch-up with rivals who have a head start, the leader in the nation’s minivehicle market plans to release its first electric minicar this autumn.

Suzuki Motor Corp., which made the announcement on Aug. 24, has unveiled a prototype of the e-Sky, which comes in the ultra-small “kei” class of vehicles, to media representatives.

A key feature is its high energy efficiency, being able to run farther on less electricity.

Through vehicle weight reduction and other measures, Suzuki has kept the electricity required to travel 1 kilometer down to 97 watt-hours, lower than electric minicars from domestic rivals.

The energy-efficiency figure is a reference value for the prototype.

The prototype also achieved a driving range of 310 kilometers on a single charge.

The e-Sky is primarily designed for commuting and everyday shopping.

Suzuki said it has prioritized the ease of use so that drivers can transition from gasoline cars without missing a beat.

When the accelerator is pressed gently, for example, the car moves forward gradually, like a gas-powered model, deliberately reining in the sharp initial acceleration characteristic of electric vehicles.

“You can drive without being constantly aware that it is an EV,” said chief engineer Tomoyuki Tsubata.

While many EVs use push-buttons to switch between Drive and Park, Suzuki has retained the traditional shift lever familiar to gasoline-car drivers.

Pricing is still under consideration.

“We want to deliver the vehicle at an accessible price,” said Shin Yoshida, who heads Suzuki’s electrification promotion section.

Competing electric minicars start in the 2-million-yen ($13,000) range, with government subsidies of up to 580,000 yen available.

In fiscal 2025, Suzuki sold about 550,000 minivehicles in Japan, leading the market with a share of about 30 percent.

However, the company has lagged behind its competitors in entering the electric minicar segment.

Nissan Motor Co., Mitsubishi Motors Corp. and Honda Motor Co. have released electric minicars since 2022.

In July this year, Chinese automaker BYD Co. also launched the Racco electric minicar.