Mexico’s First Electric Car Seats Six, Costs Less Than $9,000

Mexico is known for churning out cars for global giants, but homegrown brands have been almost nonexistent. That changes with the Olinia Uno, the country’s first domestically designed and built electric vehicle. Backed by the federal government, this little machine isn’t aimed at suburban commuters. It’s built for the streets of Mexico itself—specifically, the last-mile taxi runs that keep cities moving.

The Uno seats six people in a compact package. Under the hood sits a 14.7 kWh LFP battery pack feeding a front-wheel-drive motor that produces all of 17 horsepower. Top speed? A modest 31 mph. That’s enough for neighborhood trips, not highway cruising. Olinia says the car is meant to replace the motorcycle taxis and three-wheeled motortaxis that crowd Mexican roads.

The real selling point is the cost. The Uno starts at 150,000 pesos, or roughly $8,600. And it’s cheap to run. Olinia claims operating costs of just half a peso per kilometer—about three cents. That’s a fraction of what a gasoline taxi sedan or motorcycle taxi costs. Plug it into a standard 220-volt household outlet, and it charges in about four hours. Driving range is 62 miles, enough for a day of city work.

President Claudia Sheinbaum drove a prototype onto the stage at its debut at the Santa Lucia military base. The design won’t win beauty contests, but it looks practical. The rear doors open coach-style, and there are grab handles everywhere. Olinia says the Uno can even fit a wheelchair without modifications. It’s built for short hops, frequent stops, and passengers with bags, kids, or older adults.