Why Mexico Built an $8,500 Electric Car

29 Jul 2026 | Abstracted from IEEE Spectrum

Mexico's government-backed Olinia 1 is a $8,500 "neighborhood" EV built with a 14.7-kWh LFP battery, ~31 mph top speed, and 78-mile range, designed for congested Mexican cities where Chinese EVs (90% of the market) currently dominate. Made with public universities/researchers under SECIHTI, it targets taxis and urban commuters. Mass production starts early 2027 in Puebla, part of Mexico's broader Plan Mexico industrial strategy.

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