Latest news with #affordableVehicles
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Stellantis Exec Wants Europe to Adopt Cheap, Tiny, Japanese-Style Kei Cars
Stellantis Exec Wants Europe to Adopt Cheap, Tiny, Japanese-Style Kei Cars originally appeared on Autoblog. Though it may seem different today, more than half a century ago, American and European drivers were not as familiar with Japanese automakers and the types of cars they offered. Today, well-known Japanese brands like Honda, Toyota, and Nissan are primarily recognized in the West for their locally built compact cars, sedans, crossovers, SUVs, and pickup trucks. However, the situation is quite different in Japan. In fact, the majority of vehicles on the streets in Japan are not Accords, Civics, CR-Vs, Corollas, Crowns, or Camrys; instead, many fall under a category of super-compact vehicles known as "Kei cars." These unique compact vehicles are an essential mobility solution for Japanese drivers navigating their roads, but recently, Stellantis Chairman John Elkann encouraged European regulators to consider adopting a similar concept. On June 12, Stellantis Chairman John Elkann emphasized the urgent need for Europe to innovate and produce smaller, more affordable vehicles in the same vein as Japanese 'kei cars.' He pointed out that the high prices of current offerings, which he blamed squarely on excessively strict vehicle regulations, are hurting consumer demand for cars on the continent. During his remarks at the 2025 Automotive News Europe Congress, he pointed out that as recently as 2019, nearly 50 different models were sold in Europe with a price tag below €15,000 ($17,400); however, just a single model under that price tag exists these days. Elkann suggested that Europe should look for inspiration from Japan, where tiny and cheap kei cars have long captured a significant market share. He even proposed that Europe's version of the kei car could be named the E-Car. 'There's no reason why, if Japan has a kei car, which is 40 percent of the market, Europe should not have an E-Car,' Elkann said. In Europe, Stellantis already sells electric microcars that are classified as quadricycles in some European countries, specifically the bubble-shaped Citroën Ami, Opel Rocks-e, and Fiat Topolino. These vehicles' sales in Europe show a strong market for affordable electric mobility. However, a large variety of cars are offered as kei-compliant vehicles in Japan, including off-roaders like the Japanese-market Suzuki Jimny, roadsters like the Daihatsu Copen, family cars like the Honda N-Box, and even utility-focused kei trucks like the Mitsubishi Minicab. The 'Kei' in Kei car is short for a Japanese word called kei-jidōsha (軽自動車), which roughly translates to "light vehicle" in English. Kei cars are defined by maximum size and displacement restrictions, meaning they are only allowed to have a maximum length of about 134 inches, a width of about 58 inches, a height of about 79 inches, and a gas engine displacement of 660 cubic centimeters. In Japan, Kei cars are seen as around-town vehicles for city-dwellers, as their size and engine restrictions help owners by guaranteeing much lower tax and insurance costs while freeing up much-needed road space. Elkann emphasized that small cars, like Stellantis's own Fiat 500, have historically represented the core of the European automotive industry and served as a symbol of affordable mobility for the masses. Unfortunately, increasing regulations that made cars heavier and more expensive have made them unprofitable to manufacture. Some of the requirements for cars, ranging from small vehicles to SUVs, include safety features such as sensors that detect when a driver falls asleep and an SOS button. Elkann argues that features significantly increase the cost of vehicles primarily used for short city journeys. 'We are going to face more than 120 new regulations by 2030' in Europe, he said. 'If you look at our engineers, more than 25 percent just work on compliance, so no value is added.' Though the buying preferences of the American car-buying public may indicate that no Fiat, Citroën, or Alfa Romeo-branded European E-cars would make it on American shores, this story out of Europe shows that Stellantis is facing two different kinds of problems on two different continents with huge car-buying potential with two wildly different sets of preferences. While we may be preoccupied with Ram Trucks and Jeep stuff, it is important to note that John Elkann and the incoming CEO, Antonio Filosa, are also responsible for keeping a significant number of Europe's car factories buzzing. However, in remarks at the same conference, Elkann said that Filosa was the right choice in an automotive industry with defined challenges in particular regions. "The experience that Antonio had running Argentina, running Brazil, running South America, and recently running North America is very much in phase with how the world is going between regulations, tariffs, and how you ultimately navigate that constructively with political forces," he said. Stellantis Exec Wants Europe to Adopt Cheap, Tiny, Japanese-Style Kei Cars first appeared on Autoblog on Jun 14, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jun 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Cheapest cars to drive in 2025: Analysis finds surprising picks, discontinued models — under $30K
Buying and maintaining a vehicle can be incredibly expensive. According to CNBC, a new car could cost you close to $50,000 in 2025. So, how do drivers get the most value out of their vehicle purchases? One way to save money on car ownership is by getting a car that's cheap to drive. Vehicles with high gas mileage and track records of reliability can save you big bucks at the pump and the mechanic shop. an automotive research company, searched for the most affordable vehicles to drive based on average annual miles and new car price. The results may surprise some car buyers. Mitsubishi Mirage (average new price: $18,281) Kia Rio (average new price: $18,553) Chevrolet Spark (average new price: $16,982) Nissan Versa (average new price: $19,250) Mitsubishi Mirage G4 (average new price: $19,355) Kia Soul (average new price: $22,197) Toyota Corolla (average new price: $23,349) Chevrolet Malibu (average new price: $28,637) Hyundai Accent (average new price: $18,720) Nissan Sentra (average new price: $23,045) While several of the models listed are from Japanese automakers like Nissan, Toyota, and Mitsubishi, Japanese-made cars don't entirely dominate the list. There are also South Korean and American models included, like the Kia Rio and Chevrolet Spark. One similarity between all vehicles listed is that they are all either subcompact cars, subcompact SUVs, or sedans. So, size and fuel efficiency play a role in the overall cost of ownership. The methodology for this study included analyzing odometer readings from over one million three-year-old cars. The models listed are the cheapest cars to drive based on average annual mileage and new car prices. So, the starting MSRP's of vehicles are a factor in their placing on the list, but not the only determining factor. If you own the Mitsubishi Mirage, Kia Rio, or Chevrolet Spark, you're in luck because these small cars have officially been discontinued. That's right, some of the cheapest cars to drive (according to iSeeCars) are no longer for sale as new models. You can still find pre-owned Mitsubishi Mirage, Kia Rio, and Chevrolet Spark models at used car dealers, CarMax, or Carvana. Among those in the list, the Nissan Versa is the first still available for sale as a new vehicle. Nissan's subcompact car starts at $17,190, ($18,330 with automatic transmission) and is available in three trims: the S, SV, and SR. The final configuration of the 2025 Nissan Versa SR remains more affordable than the average new car, starting at $21,190. The 2025 Nissan Versa SR uses a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine to produce 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. It achieves 32 miles per gallon in the city and 40 miles per gallon on the highway, which is excellent fuel efficiency. The Versa nameplate remains affordable to buy as a new vehicle. The average new car price may be close to $50K in 2025, but that doesn't mean you need to pay $50,000 for a new car. In fact, there are several new cars on the market with starting prices under $40,000 that provide significant value for the money. The 2025 Nissan Versa ($17,190), 2025 Nissan Sentra ($21,590), and 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 6 ($37,850) are listed as 2025 'Best Value Winners' by a leading online automotive marketplace. also recognizes several SUVs with strong value propositions as well like the 2025 Ford Escape ($29,150) and 2025 Kia Sorento ($31,990). Finding the right new car to buy can be a harrowing task. This list of cheapest cars to own can help you make an informed purchasing decision backed by research. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cheapest cars to drive in 2025: Analysis finds surprising picks under 30K Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
