The rugged SUV maker wants a bigger share of the global market. Jeep launched its first EV, the Avenger electric SUV, in Toyota-dominated Japan. Toyota’s home market has mostly shunned imports, but foreign EVs are starting to crack the code.
Jeep launches its first EV in Japan, the Avenger SUV
Stellantis introduced its first EV, the Jeep Avenger, on Thursday. It will start at around $40,000 (5,800,000 yen). It will also be eligible for $4,500 (650,000 yen) in government incentives.
Not only is it the first model to join its lineup in two years, but the Avenger also marks a significant milestone as Jeep (Stellantis) looks to carve out a market in Japan.
Domestic automakers like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan dominate Japan’s auto market. Toyota alone accounts for nearly 50% of auto sales in its home market.
Meanwhile, EV imports are gaining a presence, especially from China. Last year, more imported EVs were sold in Japan than those domestically made.
According to the Automobile Inspection & Registration Information Associations, Toyota, Nissan, and Honda sold around 21,000 EVs in Japan, while imported EVs totaled 22,800.
Following BYD’s success
China’s leading EV maker, BYD, has played a significant role. BYD’s passenger car imports in Japan surged 184% in the first half of 2024 after it launched its first EV, the Atto 3, in January 2023.
After launching the Seal in June, BYD’s Tesla Model 3-like sedan was already Japan’s top-selling EV last month. It starts at $36,500 (5,280,000 yen).
Stellantis hopes to replicate some of BYD’s success in Japan, where Jeep’s first EV will be sold.
The “Launch Edition” will be limited to the first 150 buyers. It will come with added features, including a power sunroof, 18-inch aluminum wheels, a black-painted roof, and a yellow dashboard. Buyers will also receive a 1/43-scale die-cast parts replica of the actual model worth about $2,300 (330,000 yen).
Powered by a 54 kWh battery, the Jeep Avenger has a WLTP range of over 300 miles (486 km). It also includes Jeep’s exclusive “Selec-Terrain” with six driving modes, like Eco, Sport, and Sand. Jeep’s EV has ADAS features, including Stop & Go capabilities with adaptive cruise control and Lane Positioning Assist.
Electrek’s Take
Can Stellantis crack Japan’s auto market with the first Jeep EV rolling out? The import market has historically been limited to luxury imports from Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, and others, yet BYD is proving that there is a market for all-electric cars in the region.
In fact, BYD topped Nissan and Honda for the first time in global auto sales in the second quarter as it takes market share overseas.
Meanwhile, Toyota slashed its EV sales target earlier this month. Toyota now expects to sell 1 million EVs in 2026, down from 1.5 million. The Japanese auto giant has relied heavily on its top-selling hybrid models for continued growth, but with more advanced, more efficient EVs hitting the market (some even at a lower cost), how long will that last?
In honor of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, eBike specialist Buzz Bicycles is offering an exclusive discount for Electrek readers on its Centris Class 2 Folding Bike.
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Buzz Bicycles is back with an exclusive new deal
Buzz Bicycles has been a mainstay on Electrek for a few years now, as we have covered several of its electric bikes, which suit riders of all skill levels and help them “Buzz through life.” Buzz is an omnichannel eBike brand that prioritizes direct-to-consumerism and has found success in its mission to deliver ultimate transportation solutions at an excellent value for its growing base of eBike enthusiasts.
The company strives to deliver riders a “Wow moment,” which is usually brought on as they feel the pedal assist function kick in. This feature delivers all you need to conquer hills and longer rides while enjoying new adventures with friends.
The Buzz team has utilized decades of industry experience into its portfolio of eBikes, all conceived and designed in Dayton, Ohio. The company, which operates under the United Wheels umbrella alongside brands like Huffy Bicycles, Niner Bikes, and Batch Bicycles, has adopted an ethos that the freedom of riding should be fun and accessible for everyone, no matter what adventure lies ahead.
By leveraging the global presence of its parent company, Buzz Bicycles can make good on its promise to deliver affordable eBikes that are comfortable, powerful, and safe, much like the Centris Folding eBike, which is as versatile and compact as it is fun. The exclusive deal Buzz Bicycles is offering on the Centris makes it even more fun. You can take advantage of it below.
But first, you’ll want to learn about the capabilities of this foldable eBike to truly understand its value, as well as what accessories are available to level up your purchase.
The Buzz Centris is an easy to ride foldable eBike for all
The Buzz Centris is a Class 2 Folding eBike built for comfort and convenience no matter where you take it. At full size, the Centris’ step-through frame offers a low step-over height of just 16 inches, perfect for riders of all sizes, enabling easy transitions from ground to saddle for its riders.
When you’re not riding, the Centris from Buzz Bicycles folds neatly to 34 inches in length and 22 inches in height, making it easy to store at home or to carry in a vehicle on the way to your next ride. Furthermore, the assembled bike only weighs 68 pounds, making it easy to transport.
You can easily navigate tougher terrain on the Centris thanks to the eBike’s 20″ x 4″ knobby tires and front suspension. The bike is powered by a 48V, 500-watt-hour (Wh) battery pack that can propel it to a top speed of 20 mph for an all-electric range of up to 40 miles on a single charge.
Additionally, this folding model from Buzz Bicycles comes equipped with both a front and rear rack, offering versatile cargo-carrying options so you can customize your ride with a variety of Buzz accessories.
Like all Buzz eBikes, the Centris is tested and deemed compliant with the UL2849 standard. This standard covers the entire electric bicycle system, including the motor, battery, controller, and charger, offering the highest safety standards for added peace of mind.
The Centris Class 2 folding bike from Buzz is available in two colors: Gloss White or Matte Black. This $1,199 eBike is currently reduced to $899 – and you can score an additional $200 off with this exclusive promo, but only for a limited time.
With the purchase of any Buzz eBike, including the Centris, you are guaranteed the following:
10-year limited warranty (lightweight aluminum frame protected for full 10 years)
2-year limited warranty (electrical components covered by 2-year warranty for peace of mind)
6-month limited warranty (additional bike components protected by a 6-month warranty)
Are you interested in the Centris from Buzz Bicycles? You’ve come to the right place. Starting today, while supplies last, you can take advantage of an additional $200 off the sale price by using promo code “ELECTREK200.“ That’s a $500 discount in total!
We highly recommend perusing Buzz’s entire lineup of products. They are designed for commuters and casual riders, with technology and features that help you quickly feel comfortable riding. If you are new to the world of E-transportation, Buzz Bicycles is the brand for you.
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With up to 500 km (310 miles) of all-electric range, the new Mercedes eActros 600 electric semi truck was designed for long-haul trucking – and now, it’s officially in production at the company’s Wörth plant in Bavaria.
“The start of series production of our eActros 600 is a further proof of our ambition to transform the industry,” offers Karin Rådström, CEO of Daimler Truck. “With a range of 500 kilometers on a single battery charge, our eActros 600 is addressing the long-haul segment in Europe which is responsible for two-thirds of CO2 emissions from heavy road freight. Our battery-electric long-haul truck will therefore make a real difference.”
In addition to the 600’s additional range, the newest eActros marks another milestone by becoming the first electric Mercedes semi to be manufactured on a single line (the eActros 300/400 and eEconic leave their standard production lines to have their electric drive components installed at Mercedes’ Future Truck Center in Wörth).
“With the start of series production of the eActros 600, we are expanding our Wörth product portfolio with an important vehicle for the future,” says Andreas Bachhofer, Head of the Wörth site and Production at Mercedes-Benz Trucks. “Construction of this first battery-electric truck made in Wörth will be fully integrated into the existing assembly hall, flexibly alongside the manufacturing of combustion-engine trucks. This means that we are ideally positioned for the production of larger quantities. Our production team is well prepared for the successive ramp-up over the coming months.”
The new electric semi truck features a 600+ kWh battery (hence, eActros 600) that sends power to a new, highly efficient electric drive axle developed in-house by Mercedes-Benz, good enough to “be able to travel significantly more than 1,000 kilometers per day. This is made possible by intermediate charging during the legally prescribed driver breaks – even without megawatt-charging.”
Ben Maclean is the 24-year-old owner of a land reclamation business called Down to Earth Developments that specializes in transforming unusable or degraded land into more productive plots that can be put to residential or agricultural use – and Ben is using these hybrid machines to make reclamation an even more sustainable enterprise.
Maclean is bucking the trend of young people avoiding construction and agriculture and making a name for himself throughout the UK. Soon after becoming the youngest customer to order one of Caterpillar’s first D6XE electric dozers earlier this year. Ben was so impressed with the big electric drive CAT that he ordered another one.
It’s just arrived – and Ben seems pretty excited about it.
“It’s not just the electric drive using less fuel, but the all-round technology package you get with CAT machines that saves costs in quite a few ways,” explains Maclean. “We also have two CAT 323 hydraulic excavators and their grade assist and payload technology help us get the job done that little bit quicker.”
“Sustainability is quite literally what they do,” says Ryan Trafford, manager at CAT’s UK distributor, Finning. “Customers like Ben are the first generation to have grown up understanding the importance of making responsible decisions, with sustainability being at the heart of that.”
Here’s hoping more young people bring their sustainable priorities to the various trades as they come up.