In the US, the zero-emissions kei vehicle was tested in right-hand drive form.
In October 2019, Nissan announced its intention to release a small-sized electric vehicle (EV) by unveiling the IMk concept at Tokyo Motor Show. It wasn’t until August that an official announcement was made about the development of a zero-emission kei car as part of a 50/50 joint venture with Mitsubishi.
The prototype of the concept car is now available. The adorable little EV, which has a right-hand drive layout, was captured testing in the United States using Michigan manufacturer plates. The road-going car will be smaller and lighter than the IMx, as the Japanese concept was too long to be considered a kei car. The exact dimensions of the production car are known. Nissan stated that it would measure 3,395 millimeters (133.6 in) long, 1,475mm (58in) wide and 1,655mm (65.1 in tall). This will allow it to be maneuvered on Japan’s often busy streets. The Japanese marque also revealed the 20 kWh battery capacity, which will provide enough power to “cover daily needs in Japan”. Like many recent EVs, IMk will support bidirectional charging. This will allow owners to charge external devices with the battery’s power in the event of an emergency, such as a blackout at their neighborhood. Nissan also promises “smooth driving”, and “instant acceleration”, although we don’t expect the electric kei car breaking any lap records.
The prototype is camouflaged in heavy camouflage, but it can’t conceal the strong resemblance it has to the IMx. This includes its size and how it looks like the IMx. The IMk has a smaller wheelbase than the Nissan e-car platform, which allows for the shortest overhangs. The roof bulge is something we can’t help but notice. We also wonder if the architecture will be used on larger vehicles as the kei car is too small to be sold outside of Japan. It’s possible that the next generation Micra supermini could be converted into an electric vehicle (EV), as Nissan has already made clear that electric vehicles are the future. The IMx production version of the IMx will be available in the Land of the Rising Sun starting next year. It will have an asking price of approximately two million yen (nearly $18,000 at the current exchange rates). This includes local EV subsidies.