Why Isn’t the Nissan Sakura Electric Car Sold in the USA?

The Nissan Sakura is what is known in Japan as a kei car a Japanese microcar, the smallest highway-legal passenger car with limited dimensions and engine size. The Nissa Sakura, an electric car, is far from being the only kei car but it is one of the few available kei electric cars. Specs are modest, with just 20 kWh of battery capacity and a range of 112 miles (180 km). It will have just 62 hp (43 kW) and is sold for around $14,000 (1.78 million yen). But it will still fit four adults and some luggage, and it has a top speed of 81 mph (130 km/h).

Considering that people in the USA drive around 40 miles a day on average this vehicle’s range is more than enough for a daily driver and at $14,000, it is far cheaper than most available cars in the U.S.