The Mexican government just unveiled a prototype for a new homegrown, ultra-affordable EV. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum drove the prototype, dubbed the Olinia Uno, onto a stage Sunday during an unveiling event inside a Mexican Air Force hangar near Mexico City. 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 EV is part of the president’s Plan México, a six-year initiative meant to boost the country’s economy and manufacturing sector, with the goal of making Mexico one of the world’s 10 largest economies. Among the plan’s other goals is expanding the country’s role in global supply chains by 15% in industries like auto. Sheinbaum originally set the goal of developing a small, affordable EV back in 2025.
“Olinia represents much more than an electric car,” Sheinbaum said at the event. “It represents a seed, the seed of a new innovation ecosystem built from Mexico.” The car is designed for urban settings and has a top speed of 50 kilometers (31 miles) per hour. It also has enough space to transport someone in a wheelchair and be charged using regular power outlets at home, with a plug similar to what you would use for a microwave or refrigerator.
