[DigitalToday reporter Choi Jae-won] Suzuki unveiled its first mini passenger electric vehicle, the e SKY, in Japan. The lowest price is 2.12 million yen (about 17.92 million won), set below BYD's mini EV Lark.

On Oct. 6 (local time), Electrek and Suzuki said the e SKY is equipped with a 26 kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery and can travel up to 310 km on a single charge under the WLTC standard. Its power consumption efficiency is 97 Wh per km, and Suzuki explained it was "among the best of Japan's mini EVs as of October 2026." It also applies the HEARTECT-e platform dedicated to mini EVs and an eAxle integrating the motor, inverter and gear. It goes on sale on Nov. 16.

The made-to-order base model starts at 2.12 million yen. The standard specification starts at 2.39 million yen (about 20,211,300 won), while the higher-end model starts at 2.79 million yen (about 23,594,000 won). The government's CEV subsidy was confirmed at 568,000 yen (about 4,803,350 won), bringing the entry model down to 1.552 million yen (about 13,124,650 won) on a simple calculation. That is similar to the starting price of Suzuki's popular mini car Spacia.

On the battery supplier, the outlet reported that BYD's battery unit supplies the LFP battery. Suzuki disclosed the battery chemistry and capacity in official materials, but did not specify the supplier's name.

A rival model, BYD's Lark 200, starts at 2.145 million yen (about 18,139,400 won) and runs 210 km with a 22.4 kWh battery. The higher-end Lark 300 Plus and Premium offer a 35.84 kWh battery and a maximum range of 320 km. The Lark exceeded 1,000 orders in about 2 weeks after its July launch.

The e SKY targets the Lark and Nissan's Sakura head-on in price and driving range. As Suzuki, a strong player in Japan's mini car market, goes up against BYD, which highlights battery competitiveness, price competition in Japan's mini EV market is expected to intensify.