Suzuki unveils its first electric minicar for Japan with 310km range
The e SKY is expected to go on sale by the end of March 2027, combining low weight and high efficiency with route guidance intended to ease fears of running out of charge.
- Suzuki has unveiled the prototype for its first electric minicar for the Japanese market, named the e SKY.
- The vehicle features a competitive driving range of 310 kilometers, attributed to its lightweight design and energy efficiency.
- It includes a smart navigation system that accounts for the remaining range to ease driver concerns about running out of charge.
- Sales are scheduled to begin by March 2027, with an aim for an affordable price to encourage a switch from gasoline cars.
Suzuki Motor Corporation presented the prototype of its first electric mini-vehicle, the e SKY, online on Monday (August 24, 2026).
Its reference driving range is 310 kilometres, placing the model among the longest-range entries in the category.
Experience built up over decades of mini-vehicle engineering shaped the model, which preserves the segment’s characteristic agility.
Suzuki attributed the long range to reduced weight and efficient energy use.
“We were mindful of making the vehicle easy to drive even for gasoline car users,” a Suzuki development official said.
The official added that the company had struck a balance between cost and performance.
Route recommendations from the navigation system take account of traffic conditions and the vehicle’s remaining driving range.
The feature is intended to ease concerns that drivers could run out of charge before reaching a charging point.
Sales are expected to begin by the end of Suzuki’s current financial year in March 2027.
No price has been set, although the company wants the e SKY to be affordable enough to encourage owners of petrol cars to switch.
Competition is expected to sharpen as Japan’s electric mini-vehicle market expands.
China’s BYD launched the Racco in July, while EMT plans to enter the market in 2027.
EMT is based in Yokohama, the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture in eastern Japan, and was founded in 2025 by five Japanese and Chinese companies, including Japanese car-accessory supplier Autobacs Seven and China’s Chery Automobile.
Suzuki welcomed the growing field. “It is good for consumers to have more choices,” a company official said. The official added: “We want to make a strong appeal as a company specialising in minivehicles.”
[Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
