Mexico unveils first domestically built electric car

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled the nation’s first domestically developed electric vehicle on Sunday, June 8, driving a prototype of the compact Olinia Uno onto a stage inside an air force hangar at the Santa Lucía military base north of Mexico City. The government-backed project, presented as a milestone for national industry, aims to produce an affordable urban electric car for the Mexican market, with commercial sales scheduled to begin in the summer of 2027.

The six-seat passenger vehicle is designed specifically for city use, with a maximum speed of 50 kilometers per hour and a range of over 125 kilometers per charge from its 14.7 kilowatt-hour battery. Officials emphasized its practicality for short urban trips, which they said constitute most driving in Mexican cities, and highlighted its potential as a taxi or last-mile transport vehicle. The Olinia Uno will have a starting price of 150,000 pesos, approximately $8,600, and can be charged using a standard household outlet.

At the unveiling, President Sheinbaum framed the project as a rebuttal to the idea that Mexico is limited to assembling foreign technology. She stated that Olinia proves the country’s...