Honda to launch N-Box EV version in 2027 to compete with BYD Racco, Suzuki expected to follow
Honda Motor is planning to introduce an electric version of its N-Box around 2027 to compete with the BYD-made kei car, according to a report by Nikkei Asia.
The Honda N-Box was first launched in Japan in 2011 and has now gone through three generations in the Japanese market.
It has been one of the best-selling vehicles in Japan for three consecutive years, with over 200,000 units sold in 2024.
Honda has not yet decided on the specifications or pricing for the N-Box EV model.
It is clear, however, that the N-Box EV will not entirely replace the role of the internal combustion engine (ICE) version.
For reference, Honda Japan has a similar kei car product, the N-Van e: which is aimed at commercial use and has been on sale since 2024.
The N-Van e: features a single electric motor with a power output of 64 PS and 152 Nm, and offers a driving range of 245 km on a full charge (WLTC data).
In Japan, new electric vehicle (EV) sales accounted for only 2 percent of total vehicle sales throughout 2024.
Of that total, more than 40 percent was dominated by the kei car twins, the Nissan Sakura EV and the Mitsubishi eK X EV.
Both of these EV models share specifications, including an electric motor producing 64 PS/195 Nm, a 20 kWh lithium-ion battery, and a driving range of up to 180 km (WLTC data).
In addition to Honda, Suzuki Motor is also planning to introduce a kei car EV by 2026.
The BYD Racco is a kei car specially developed by BYD for the Japanese market.
Unveiled for the first time at the Japan Mobility Show 2025, the BYD Racco features the following:
- Dimensions: 3,395 mm x 1,475 mm x 1,800 mm
- Sliding doors on both the left and right
- 20 kWh LFP battery pack
- Driving range of 180 km (WLTC data)
The arrival of the BYD Racco clearly demonstrates that the prominent Chinese brand is serious about producing a vehicle that complies with the dimensional regulations set for the kei car segment in Japan.
