TOKYO, June 13 (Reuters) – Honda Motor announced on Thursday that it would begin selling a micro-sized electric van in October, specifically aimed at Japan’s delivery sector. This move positions Honda in an increasingly competitive segment of the market.
The new electric commercial van is expected to have a cruising range of 245 km (152 miles), according to a company statement. It will be classified as a “kei” vehicle, which benefits from lower power output and associated tax advantages for domestic vehicles.
This launch is a strategic step as Honda, the second-largest automaker in Japan by volume, also plans to introduce a new electric kei passenger car next year. Honda already holds a strong position in the kei car market, with its N-Box model consistently leading the kei passenger vehicle sales.
Micro kei vehicles are particularly popular among businesses and households in Japan for delivering agricultural products, parcels, and other goods, whether in urban centers or rural areas. This popularity is partly attributed to their affordability.
The launch comes after Toyota Motor delayed its small electric van launch (developed in partnership with Suzuki Motor and Daihatsu) due to a safety test scandal at Daihatsu. Mitsubishi Motors relaunched its own small commercial van, the Minicab EV, in December 2023.
