The Olinia Uno is a planned six-passenger car that can travel up to 125 kilometers (77 miles) on a single charge. It is expected to go on sale next summer for about 150,000 Mexican pesos or roughly $8,500, according to a press release.
The car is designed for urban settings and has a top speed of 50 kilometers (31 miles) per hour.
I like it but if it only goes 31 mph, then it’s not really a car. IMHO. People drive around in golf carts in my neighborhood all of the time. I’m pretty sure they’re nearly the same thing.
Mexico (at least up north where I e been) has little neighborhoods like in the US, but they all have their own stores and stuff. Like a mini suburb in a subdivision.
31 mph would be plenty.
They also have a robust “microbus” economy. These are basically private individuals running little routes in the neighborhood and between them, to some of the bigger shops.
This vehicle could be well suited for this and the micros are as ancient as they are ubiquitous. It’s a good little chunk of traffic. Of that’s what they’re targeting, then it strikes me as clever. Bunch of folks mostly running errands.
It’ll be neat to see how it does.
They remind me of Kei cars in Japan. Kind of the same principle. More than a golf cart, less than a car.
Probably a categorisation thing to make them more accessible. In Europe there’s a class of vehicle called Motor Quadricycle which are subject to very relaxed taxes and regulation compared to cars but have to meet very strict regulations about size, speed, capacity, etc. In France they call them San Permits because you literally don’t need a driver’s license to drive one of you were born before 1990, and anyone else aged 14+ only need to have had a minimal training session (those numbers might be a bit odd but you get the idea). A lot of people who simply couldn’t get a license to drive a car can still get one of these - for better or worse.
It goes 50 kph, which is the speed limit in many cities. It’s clearly aimed at people who need a city car and won’t be taking it on the freeway.
No. I get it. But phrasing it that way made me think. Ooo, cool new electric car. Like BYD. But in my opinion, not a car. More like a golf cart or as they are calling them here, neighborhood electric vehicle.