TECH IN ASIA



 

Competition in Japan’s electric minivehicle and compact EV market is set to rise in summer 2026.

BYD’s entry into the segment, along with Nissan and Honda rolling out lower-cost or new models, could widen buyer choice and put pressure on prices.

Nissan plans to launch a cheaper version of its Sakura this summer, cutting the price by 150,000 yen (US$940) to 1.9 million yen (US$12,000).

Honda launched the N-One e: in 2025 and plans to release the Super-One compact EV in late May, based on that model.

BYD plans to launch the Racco in Japan this summer at about 2 million yen (US$13,000), making it its first model built exclusively for the Japanese market.

Japan’s EV adoption remains low, but some industry officials expect higher fuel prices to lift demand.