Wednesday, 2 April 2025
Home Topics Business Japan’s Honda to start selling micro-sized electric vans in October
BusinessElectric Vehicles (EVs)NewsTransport

Japan’s Honda to start selling micro-sized electric vans in October

85
FILE PHOTO: The Honda Motor logo is pictured at the 43rd Bangkok International Motor Show, in Bangkok, Thailand, March 22, 2022. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo
Honda is the latest company set to launch in the small electric van market. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo

TOKYO (Reuters) – Honda Motor will start selling a micro-sized electric van targeted at Japan’s delivery industry in October, joining an increasingly crowded part of the market.

The small electric commercial van will have a cruising range of 245 km (152 miles), the company said in a statement. It will be classed as a “kei” vehicle, which are low-powered, low-taxed domestic vehicles.

The launch of the new model comes as Japan’s second-biggest automaker by volume separately plans to start selling an electric kei passenger car next year.

Organizations

Honda is a powerhouse in Japan’s substantial market of kei micro-sized cars. Its N-Box model has long topped the ranks of Japan’s kei passenger vehicle market.

Micro kei vehicles are hugely popular with businesses and households for delivering agriculture produce, parcels and other goods in urban areas and the countryside in Japan, in part due to their relatively cheap price.

The roll-out comes months after Toyota Motor delayed the launch of a small electric van that it is developing with Suzuki Motor and Daihatsu, following a safety test scandal at Daihatsu.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp in December 2023 relaunched its own small commercial van, Minicab EV.

(Reporting by Daniel Leussink; Editing by Jamie Freed)

Related Articles

Lilium burnt through huge sums while trying to develop its jet (AFP)

German flying taxi start-up’s rescue deal collapses

A German flying taxi start-up said on Friday it would halt operations...

FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum speaks as he attends a signing ceremony with members of the West Virginia Congressional Delegation at the EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 18, 2025. REUTERS/Kent Nishimura/File Photo

US energy council chief says power plants to produce 15% more electricity

By Valerie Volcovici WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Interior Secretary and co-chair of...

Cuba has inaugurated a new solar energy park in the capital Havana (AFP)

Cuba opens solar park hoping to stave off blackouts

Cuba on Friday unveiled a new solar energy park in the capital...

FILE PHOTO: Cranes unload imported iron ore from a cargo vessel at a port in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province, China October 27, 2019. REUTERS/Stringer/File Photo

Iron ore heads for weekly gain on brightening demand outlook, China stimulus hopes

By Amy Lv and Lewis Jackson BEIJING (Reuters) -Iron ore futures prices...

Login into your Account

Please login to like, dislike or bookmark this article.