Chinese EV giant BYD’s new Racco electric kei car has reportedly crossed 700 orders in its first week on sale in Japan. That points to strong demand for ultra-compact city EVs.
The Racco is priced from 2.145 million yen before tax, and it falls below 2 million yen after a ¥150,000 government subsidy in Japan. Converted to Nepali terms, that is roughly around Rs 17–18 lakh before local duties.
Higher variants of the Racco claim up to 320 km of range. They also bring features unusual for a car this size, including sliding rear doors, a familiar choice in Japan’s crowded cities.
Kei cars like the Racco are built to meet Japan-specific size and tax rules, so this exact model is unlikely to be sold in Nepal. BYD’s success with a low-cost compact EV abroad, however, strengthens the case for future small BYD city cars tailored to markets like India and Nepal, where tight streets and high fuel prices make affordable electric runabouts attractive.
For now, Nepali buyers can only watch Japan’s kei EV experiment. It still offers a glimpse of how cheap, practical urban EVs from China could be priced if adapted for our market.
Writes on vehicle pricing, taxation and the Nepali auto market from ongoing tracking of distributor price lists. Editorial policy.
