Mitsubishi-Nissan busy developing electric Kei car

Years before Nissan and Mitsubishi became part of the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance, the two Japanese automakers have already been collaborating on making small 'Kei' cars.

Under the 50:50 joint venture called NMKV, both Mitsubishi and Nissan have been producing Kei cars since 2011. The two companies even celebrated the 10th anniversary of the partnership earlier this year after building a total of 1.52 million vehicles at the time.

But with both Nissan and Mitsubishi working to build more EVs, the two automakers are now also busy developing a zero-emissions Kei car. The mini EV is set to be launched in 2022 and will combine lightweight construction, powerful acceleration, and a quiet ride.

The exact details about the upcoming EV are not yet available. But Nissan did reveal the EV's dimensions. Measuring 3395mm long, 1475mm wide, and 1655mm height, the vehicle will be similar in size to the standard Kei cars. In terms of power, the upcoming EV will have a 20 kWh battery pack which Nissan says will be enough to use daily.

In case of emergencies, the EV can be used to power a household. This is similar to the technology that is also present in the 2021 Outlander PHEV.

The specifications are subject to change over time since the mini EV is still undergoing development. But with a planned launch sometime next year, there could be more improvements on the way.

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