Suzuki, Daihatsu, Toyota and Commercial Japan Partnership Technologies Corp (CJPT) have agreed to work towards the market introduction of mini-commercial van battery electric vehicles (BEVs) in FY2023. Mini-commercial vehicles cover areas accessible only to them because of their small size; they are also important in supporting last-mile logistics. Indeed, with their use becoming widespread and accounting for about 60% of the total commercial vehicle fleet, they are capable of contributing significantly to the achievement of carbon neutrality if electrification advances.

However, the companies say that a major issue in promoting the electrification of mini-commercial vehicles is the increasing burden on society, including the higher vehicle costs associated with electrification, the costs related to charging infrastructure, and the charging time (when vehicles and cargo are stopped).

To produce an affordable mini-commercial van BEV that meets the usage needs of commercial customers, CJPT will participate in the planning, while Suzuki, Daihatsu and Toyota will jointly develop a BEV system suitable for mini-commercial vehicles by combining Suzuki and Daihatsu's know-how in manufacturing mini vehicles with Toyota's electrification technology.

The mini-commercial van BEV developed by these four companies will be used by partners in ‘social implementation projects’ in Fukushima Prefecture and Tokyo.