Only 1.6% of Passenger Cars Sold in Japan Last Year Were EVs: “Few Models and Lack of Infrastructure”

According to Financial News, electric vehicles (EVs) accounted for only 1.6% of passenger cars sold in Japan last year. This contrasts with South Korea, where EVs made up more than 10% of newly registered vehicles over the same period.
On the 14th, an analysis by Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK) of data from the Japan Automobile Dealers Association and others showed that 60,677 EVs were sold in Japan last year. This represents 1.6% of the total 3,836,380 passenger cars sold.
The slow uptake of EVs in Japan is attributed to the limited number of available models and their relatively high prices. In addition, the lack of sufficient charging infrastructure remains a major obstacle to wider EV adoption.
However, attention is turning to whether the situation will change, as Suzuki and China’s BYD are scheduled to launch electric mini vehicles in the Japanese market this year and next.
whywani@fnnews.com Hong Chae-wan Reporter