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Mitsubishi Motors Corp has announced that its all-new eK X EV, an all-electric kei-car, has won the 2022-2023 Japan Car of the Year and the K Car of the Year.
In awarding the Japan Car of the Year, the organizing committee recognized the eK X EV for adopting Japanese kei-car standards, lowering the hurdle to owning a battery electric vehicle (EV) at a realistic vehicle price, and increasing the potential for battery EVs to spread in Japan. Also, before the full-fledged decarbonization era, the combination of kei-car and battery EV not only ensures freedom of mobility for many people including the elderly, but also shows the possibility of solving social issues in a situation where gas stations and public transportation are expected to decline. In terms of driving performance, many commented that its handling and dynamic performance surpass those of conventional kei-cars. It was also highly evaluated for its safety equipment including the 360 degree safety assist (all-around driver assistance system), which provides driver assistance features comparable to those of a luxury car.
In awarding the K Car of the Year, the organizing committee acclaimed the eK X EV as good value for money as an entry-level battery EV even within the category of kei-cars. It was also highly recognized for its driving range of 120 to 150 kilometers in real terms, considering the expected usage environment, as well as for balancing handling stability and quietness at a high level, which many members of the selection committee also pointed out as the reasons for the Japan Car of the Year award.
This is the fifth time that Mitsubishi Motors has won the Japan Car of the Year, following the Galant and Legnum in 1996, and the third time that it has won an award in the kei-car category, following the eK X space and eK space in 2020.
"We are truly honored to receive the prestigious Japan Car of the Year awards," said Takao Kato, president and chief executive officer, Mitsubishi Motors. "The electrification technology that we have honed over the years and our underlying strength in car manufacturing have been highly evaluated. We will continue to deliver vehicles that embody Mitsubishi Motors-ness - a combination of safety, security, comfort and environmental-friendliness - and that make driving even more fulfilling for our customers, while contributing to the realization of a carbon-neutral society."
Source: Mitsubishi Motors Corp
© JCN Newswire
25 Comments
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Sh1mon M4sada
So a car that can't make a typical Tokyo 《》 Hakone trip on one charge gets a car of the year award?
Strangerland
It wasn't made for that. It does however work great for the trips it was made for, which are 99.9999% of trips people make.
Sh1mon M4sada
So what is it made for? and Who?
In the metro area people take PT. I only ever use my car for weekend trips out of the metro area. Guess it's not for me.
Strangerland
For the 99.999% of trips people make that are in the range of the car. Who would be anyone who isn't using the car for long-distance driving.
This is why the streets are empty and you never see cars in Tokyo, right?
Sh1mon M4sada
99.9% of cars I see in metro areas are capable of at least 3 times the range of this car.
1glenn
These kei cars look practical. It would take care of most of my driving.
I was just reading that Norway has passed legislation that all cars sold starting in 2025 have to be zero emission cars. Good on them.
The highest rated EV here in the states, currently, for those not yet multi-millionaires, is a KIA EV.
Yrral
An American pothole will swallow up this car
Strangerland
And 99.99999% of the trips made by those cars, could be made by this one.
garypen
I have yet to see a Hyundai, Kia, or Genesis on the roads here. I'm not saying there aren't any. But, I haven't seen any, if there are. No TV commercials for those brands, either.
garypen
Plus, not everyone in Japan lives in Tokyo. A lot of people seem to forget that, especially those who live in Tokyo.
Strangerland
This car will cover 99.9999% of the trips made by people in the countryside too.
Speed
120-150 kms isn't enough for my needs of having to go to the next city, which is about 110 kilos away. If there isn't a charge station there, I'd be stuck. My current K van can make a trip and back and one more trip there. More charge stations need to be built.
2 Year Old
Speed… which came first, the petroleum engines vehicle or the gas station?
same with EVs…
sethwright
Cars are not “solving social problems” … they are creating them.
And public transit is not on the decline. On the contrary, look at the disastrous suburban sprawl and deadly traffic in American cities and it’s easy to see why cities around the world are aggressively moving to outright ban personal cars from city centers while also, with high public approval, positioning public transit + bicycles + walkablity are the future.
xin xin
Great job, Mitsubishi!
Abe234
This will be a great start to change all those little K cars to electric, since they do the supermarket, juku, dentist, clinic, coffee shop runs, for families with two cars and live in a house. Sadly! if you live in an apartment block we are pretty much ........out of luck. Which will need legislation to FORCE builder to put in charging points, but my guess is, the JP gov won't and instead help Toyota, push their hydrogen agenda.
garypen
Definitely the vast majority of trips made by most personal vehicles across the country are short, and well within this vehicle's range. But, certainly not 99.9999%. That's just a silly exaggeration. It's probably more like 90%, which is still quite substantial.
kohakuebisu
Most journeys of 5km or less should be on an electric motorcycle or electric assist bike. Or a pedal bike for non lazy people. Short journeys may be what people do now in cars, but that is not something that we should be coming up with new tech for to reinforce going forwards. Electric cars are coming to save the car industry, not to save the planet.
Strangerland
Is it? Most people go on a drive outside the city what two, maybe three times a year. But they may drive their car to work every day, to the store, and to whatever they do in their area on the weekends. Compared with 2-3 trips per year outside this range.
Granted, my number is pulled out of the air. But what got me thinking this way was my friend who owns an EV, who hemmed and hawed about it for years, then bought it and realized that not being able to go longer distances was a non-issue. The guy leaves the city once a year.
Tom San
Hyundai, KIA, ha, ha, ha.
MiuraAnjin
This (well actually the rebadged Nissan Sakura, as I reckon the Mitsubishi styling designer must be blind, or at least blind drunk all the time) will be my next car. I commute 70km a day, 40km on regular roads and 30km highway, with an occasional requirement to visit clients in the field. 120km range is perfect and will save a fortune in petrol. For ski trips and other jaunts out of Kanto, I'll be hanging on to my trusty Jimny though.
Tom San
I visit my clients in my Toyota Supra.
I want to let them know I'm an enthusiast, not some eco-nut.
No EV's for me.
El Rata
I will talk from personal experience as I posses the Nissan version. The car is quick, fun to drive (it certainly doesn't feel like your regular crappy kei) and saves you heaps on petrol (money which I use to buy craft beer), plus I get to give my overpowered German beasts a break. I use it mainly to go from home to my business and to run errands around town. I wouldn't recommend it as an only car though, if you live in a mansion or your commute is more than 100km a day. If you have a petrol car, a house and need something to move around cheaply it isn't that bad.
Speed
That's a good question and point. But remember, the auto industry grew slowly, little by little, where demand fueled, excuse the pun, the gradual building of gas stations over decades. There were very few motorists.
Our current situation has tens of millions already driving gas powered engines in an already established automotive society. These artificial targets to switch completely over to electric is going to create a gigantic demand for power over supply, which may cause some incredible havoc.