A new EV could be a game changer
As car brands selling electric vehicles continue to battle away in the wake of the removal of the Clean Car Discount, a new affordable option could flip the script on affordable plug-in motoring.
In June of last year, Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand confirmed it was in the process of evaluating the brand’s pint-sized fully electric eK X kei car for the New Zealand market, with speculation that the model would likely become the cheapest EV in the country if adopted officially by the brand.
Now, a pair of Mitsubishi dealerships –both in Wellington – have listed a pair of eK X models on Trade Me, with an asking price of $29,990. One has more than 2000km on its odometer, the other is essentially brand new with just 55km in delivery mileage. The listings provide the best evidence yet of the eK X’s likely New Zealand pricing, if it ever ends up joining Mitsubishi’s local line-up formally.
Asked whether the two cars were brought in by the brand officially or whether they were brought in independently by the two dealerships in question, Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand head of marketing Reece Congdon confirmed it was the latter. He added that the brand’s evaluation of the model remains ongoing. “Mitsubishi Motors New Zealand is still in discussions with our parent company about the viability of bringing the eK x to New Zealand.”
Among factors being considered in Mitsubishi’s decision are where the market will fall with the axing of the Clean Car Discount. EV sales were poor in January and February, but those figures were largely reflective of the surge of EV customers who bought a car at the end of 2023 before the rebate disappeared.
It may take months before the EV market returns to a level more representative of where genuine customer interest sits.
“We’ll also be watching the EV market ... to see where the segment levels out to after the removal of the Clean Car Discount. Like the rest of the New Zealand new car market, I imagine dealers of all marques will be keeping a keen eye on whether BEV demand recovers after the end of the Clean Car Discount,” Congdon said.
Price is often considered one of the leading barriers for customers considering EVs. Big inroads were made last year with the launch of the first sub-$40,000 EVs in the form of the MG4 and GWM Ora. But, both of these only achieved this feat because of the $7015 rebate.
While EVs aren’t especially popular in Japan, many of the best-selling models are kei cars such as the little eK X. As previously reported, the eK is a mere 3395mm long, 1475mm wide, and 1656mm tall. It is roughly 600mm shorter than a Mazda MX-5, while still cramming in an extra pair of doors and a second row of seats.
Power comes from a 20kWh battery pack, allowing a WLTP-rated range of 180km. A single electric motor provides 47kW/195Nm.