KATHMANDU: Suzuki is set to enter Japan’s electric kei car market with the new e SKY. The mini EV is expected to become Japan’s cheapest electric kei car when it launches on November 16.
The Suzuki e SKY will start at around $13,500, making it slightly cheaper than the BYD Racco, which starts at around $13,600. Suzuki says the e SKY can deliver a WLTC range of up to 310 km. It also has an AC energy consumption rating of 97 Wh/km.
The company has developed a dedicated Kei EV platform and electric drive system for the model. The focus is on improving efficiency while keeping the price low.
Interestingly, the e SKY will use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries supplied by BYD’s battery division. The use of BYD batteries is expected to help Suzuki control costs.
Government subsidies for the e SKY have not yet been announced. If it qualifies for the government subsidy, its effective price could fall to around $10,000.
The e SKY will compete directly with BYD’s Racco. The Racco 200 uses a 22.4 kWh LFP battery and offers a WLTC range of 210 km. Higher-spec Racco 300 Plus and Premium variants use a 35.84 kWh battery. They offer a range of up to 320 km.
Both the Suzuki e SKY and BYD Racco offer a longer claimed range than the Nissan Sakura. The Sakura starts at around $15,000 in Japan.
According to company, BYD aims to sell 10,000 Racco EVs in Japan by the end of 2026. The model secured 1,000 orders within its first two weeks of launch.
