Mexico Presents First Olinia EV Prototype, Eyes 2027 Production Goal
Mexican government officials on Sunday unveiled the first completed prototype of the Olinia Uno, the country’s first mini electric vehicle, while reaffirming plans to begin production in the summer of 2027.
According to officials, Olinia aims to offer an affordable mobility option to Mexican consumers while positioning the country as a leader in local technology, creating a new low-cost category in the country’s electric-vehicle market with public-private partnerships.
“Operating an Olinia costs five times less than operating a gasoline-powered vehicle, and less than half the cost of operating a motorcycle,” Imelda Vega Platas, Olinia’s quality management systems lead, said during a Sunday presentation.
She added that, based on daily travel of 75 kilometers (47 miles), the vehicle could generate annual fuel savings of more than 50,000 pesos ($2,860). Officials estimated operating costs at 0.49 pesos per kilometer, compared with 2.40 pesos per kilometer for a gasoline-powered vehicle.
In previous months, Olinia Chief Executive Roberto Capuano said that Olinia was not designed to comply with Mexico’s current NOM-194 vehicle safety regulation.
Under existing rules, the vehicle cannot be registered for license plates because of its technical specifications. He said the new regulatory framework would take between 18 and 20 months to be formally enacted, broadly aligning with the project’s planned 2027 launch.
“We are working with the Economy Ministry on a new regulatory framework for this mobility category that will not only create space for Olinia but also for an entirely new industrial platform in Mexico,” Capuano said.
The executive also said the company is working with the Environment Ministry Semarnat to incorporate Olinia into the country’s environmental credits program under NOM-163.
The mechanism allows manufacturers to offset CO2 emissions and fuel-economy compliance targets by earning and accumulating environmental credits, according to official information.
Olinia’s limited top speed of 50 kilometers per hour is one of its defining features and its battery is expected to provide a driving range of more than 100 kilometers.
While the Olinia Uno is intended as an urban passenger transport alternative, officials said additional details on the Olinia Cargo, a small electric cargo vehicle, will be unveiled later this year.
Officials said the vehicle will be priced at an initial cost of 150,000 pesos.
Reporting by José Luis Adriano, jadriano@opisnet.com; Editing by Karla Omaña, komana@opisnet.com and Michael Kelly, mkelly@opisnet.com