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Suzuki to launch kei EV e SKY on Nov 16 from ¥2.12 million, Japan's cheapest kei EV
Versión 2: New coverage adds Yomiuri Shimbun's figures on the e SKY's efficiency, its comparison with Nissan's Sakura and Suzuki's 34% kei market share, as well as Nishi-Nippon Shimbun's report citing an effective price from about ¥1.55 million.
En breve
Suzuki said on Oct 6 that it will launch the e SKY, its first kei-class passenger electric vehicle, on Nov 16, with prices from ¥2.12 million including tax — the lowest for a kei EV in Japan, according to Nikkei, Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun. The three-grade lineup tops out at ¥2.79 million and offers a 310 km range; Mynavi News says the 26 kWh battery is procured from BYD. Yomiuri and Mynavi News report a monthly sales target of 1,000 units, and Yomiuri and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun cite an effective price from about ¥1.55 million with the national subsidy.
Leer la noticia completa 2 min de lectura
Suzuki announced on Oct 6 that it will put its first kei-class passenger electric vehicle, the e SKY, on sale on Nov 16, with prices starting at ¥2.12 million including tax. Nikkei, Asahi Shimbun and Yomiuri Shimbun all described that starting price as the lowest for a kei EV sold in Japan. Nikkei reported that the e SKY undercuts the Racco that China's BYD launched in July, saying the cheapest grade is about ¥20,000 less than the equivalent Racco grade. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 ]
The model comes in three grades priced at ¥2.12 million, ¥2.39 million and ¥2.79 million, named A, G and X, according to Asahi Shimbun and Mynavi News. The cheapest grade is made to order and limits equipment, including no opening and closing function for the rear seat windows, Asahi reported. Mynavi News reported that the monthly sales target is 1,000 units. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 ]
Suzuki says the e SKY covers 310 km on a single charge, which Yomiuri Shimbun described as the longest range among Japanese makers' kei cars. Mynavi News reported a 26 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery procured from BYD, a vehicle weight of 1,030 kg, a motor producing 47 kW (64 PS) and electricity consumption of 97 Wh/km; Yomiuri Shimbun gave an efficiency figure of 11.92 km per kWh. Mynavi News said Suzuki president Toshihiro Suzuki, speaking at the presentation, stressed that the company was particular about electricity efficiency in order to address users' concerns about EVs. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
The development concept was “Easy to Switch”, aimed at drivers moving from gasoline cars. Asahi Shimbun reported that under gentle accelerator pressure the car deliberately softens the sharp acceleration typical of EVs and pulls away gradually like a gasoline model. Mynavi News reported that the model is the production version of the Vision e-Sky concept car Suzuki showed at the 2025 Japan Mobility Show, and that Suzuki already sells the SUV-type EV e Vitara in Japan. [ 2 , 3 ]
On cost, Mynavi News reported that the cheapest grade could qualify for a national CEV subsidy of ¥568,000 for filings made between Oct 6 and Dec 31, 2026, putting the effective price from around ¥1.55 million; Yomiuri Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun also cited an effective price from about ¥1.55 million with government subsidies. Yomiuri reported that this would make the e SKY more than ¥300,000 cheaper than Nissan's Sakura kei EV. Nikkei said the launch is aimed at stimulating demand in Japan's EV market, which it said spreads more slowly than markets overseas, and Yomiuri noted that Suzuki held the top share of Japan's kei sales last year at 34% but had fallen behind in EVs. [ 1 , 3 , 6 , 7 ]
Por qué importa
The launch places a Japanese kei EV at the bottom of the domestic price range, in a segment where Nikkei says China's BYD entered in July with the Racco. Nikkei frames the move as an attempt to lift demand in Japan's EV market, which it says spreads more slowly than markets overseas; Yomiuri notes Suzuki led Japan's kei segment with a 34% share last year but lagged in EVs. For readers outside Japan, the low price point and the sourcing of the battery from a Chinese supplier are the elements that travel beyond the domestic market.
Datos clave
- Suzuki announced on Oct 6, 2026 that it will launch the e SKY, its first kei-class passenger EV, on Nov 16. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- The price starts at ¥2.12 million including tax, which the reports describe as the lowest for a kei EV in Japan. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 ]
- Three grades are offered at ¥2.12 million, ¥2.39 million and ¥2.79 million, named A, G and X, and the cheapest is made to order. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The driving range is 310 km on a single charge. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
- The car uses a 26 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery that Mynavi News says is procured from BYD. [ 3 ]
- Yomiuri Shimbun and Mynavi News report a monthly sales target of 1,000 units. [ 3 , 6 ]
- Yomiuri Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun cite an effective price from about ¥1.55 million when the national subsidy is used. [ 6 , 7 ]
- Suzuki already sells the SUV-type EV e Vitara in Japan, Mynavi News reported. [ 3 ]
Confirmado por varias fuentes
- Suzuki announced the e SKY, its first kei-class passenger EV, with sales to begin on Nov 16. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 ]
- The starting price is ¥2.12 million including tax, described as the lowest for a kei EV in Japan. [ 1 , 2 , 5 , 6 ]
- The model is offered in three grades, with the cheapest made to order. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The range is 310 km on a single charge. [ 2 , 3 , 6 ]
- The effective price can fall to about ¥1.55 million with the national subsidy, according to Yomiuri Shimbun and Nishi-Nippon Shimbun. [ 6 , 7 ]
Aún sin aclarar
- Nikkei reports that the e SKY's cheapest grade is about ¥20,000 cheaper than the equivalent grade of BYD's Racco, which launched in July, and that ¥2 million is a lifeline for kei EVs. These are single-source statements; document 4 carries only a headline and no readable article or summary, and the other documents do not repeat the Racco comparison.
- Mynavi News says the battery is a 26 kWh lithium iron phosphate unit procured from BYD. The battery supplier is stated in only one document; Nikkei's headline also mentions a BYD-made battery but gives no detail in readable text.
- Mynavi News reports an AC electricity consumption rate of 97 Wh/km and a vehicle weight of 1,030 kg; Yomiuri Shimbun reports a figure of 11.92 km per kWh. The two figures are expressed in different units and do not match on their face; the documents do not reconcile them, and each figure appears in only one document.
- Mynavi News reports that the cheapest grade could qualify for a national CEV subsidy of ¥568,000 for filings between Oct 6 and Dec 31, 2026. The subsidy amount and filing window come from a single document.
Qué dicen los medios locales
Cronología, hora local
- Nikkei reports that Suzuki announced the e SKY, priced from ¥2.12 million, the lowest for a kei EV in Japan, and that it undercuts BYD's Racco. [ 1 ]
- Asahi Shimbun reports the Nov 16 launch date, the 310 km range and grade prices of ¥2.12 million, ¥2.39 million and ¥2.79 million. [ 2 ]
- Mynavi News reports further details, including the BYD-supplied 26 kWh LFP battery, 97 Wh/km consumption and a 1,000-unit monthly sales target. [ 3 ]
- Nikkei reports that ¥2 million is a lifeline for kei EVs and that Suzuki adopted a Chinese BYD-made battery to reach Japan's lowest price. [ 4 ]
- Yahoo! News Japan carries the launch report, repeating the Nov 16 date and the ¥2.12 million starting price. [ 5 ]
- Yomiuri Shimbun reports the 310 km range as the longest among Japanese makers' kei cars, an effective price from about ¥1.55 million with subsidies and a monthly target of 1,000 units. [ 6 ]
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun reports the November launch and the roughly ¥1.55 million effective starting price. [ 7 ]