This Tiny Affordable Van Is the Urban Game-Changer the US Needs

June 11, 2026

There’s a new tempting transport solution from south of the border that takes the form of a super-cheap city-ready EV.

Front view of a white compact electric van with circular LED headlights and black roof rails.

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With prices soaring on window stickers, at the fuel pump and throughout the secondhand market, it’s not a fun time to be shopping for a set of wheels here in the United States. Buying is rough right now, and it doesn’t matter if the car in question is new or merely new to you.

As a result, it’s easy to look around the world with envy at some of the affordable solutions that remain tantalizingly out of reach. From tiny, small-displacement motorcycles to kei vans, there’s a lot of forbidden fruit that just begs for a stateside release.

White and black compact electric van with boxy design and roof rails on a gray background. — Olinia’s Uno is a six-seat urban-ready EV that’s meant to do taxi duty in Mexico.

The latest of which actually doesn’t come from Japan. Rather, this is something much closer to home, as it’s a vehicle that hails from just south of the border.

It’s called the Olinia Uno, and it’ll be hitting the market in Mexico thanks to the backing of the Mexican government. As an EV designed, developed and (soon to be) built domestically, it’s a truly homegrown effort.

Aerial view of a blue car, a white SUV, and a red three-wheeled vehicle parked in adjacent spaces in a parking lot. — As an alternative to both sedans and motorcycles, the Uno splits the difference.

Now, as you can probably tell from the size of the wheels and the uncharacteristic body shape, the Uno won’t be much for joy rides. It’s an urban runabout intended to make electric vehicles more accessible by lowering their cost of entry.

As a result, the powertrain specs aren’t anything to write home about. The single rear-mounted electric motor makes 18 horsepower and can take the car up to a top speed of 31 mph, while the 14.7 kWh battery is good for a max range of 77 miles and charges in four hours or more.

Rear view of a white compact vehicle with black bumper showing a transparent overlay of its drivetrain components. — While output is meager, the Uno does offer a spacious interior that looks to be great for hauling people and cargo.

For that matter, though the Uno does come with some modernities such as a Bluetooth speaker, some power windows and LEDs, Olinia has even avoided other basics like A/C and airbags.

However, what the vehicle forgoes in complication, it more than makes up for when it comes to things like utility and accessibility. In addition to room for up to six, it’s wheelchair-friendly and it takes a charge at standard outlets. That’s not even addressing the promise of the bed-equipped Cargo variant.

Ultimately, the Uno’s biggest selling point is that it’s cheap. At around $8,700, it even undercuts affordable Chinese cars that aren’t available in the United States.

White and black compact electric car charging on a driveway next to a beige building. — Charging is meant to be easy, even if it isn’t speedy.

Based on the price alone, I have to imagine that more than a few Americans would be willing to give it a shot, regardless of its pedestrian specs.

After all, the cheapest new electric car you can buy stateside is Chevy’s $28,995 Bolt, an option that costs more than 3X as much. The used market isn’t faring a lot better, as the ongoing premiums for gas mean that asking prices for EVs have climbed at a breakneck pace.

Top-down view of a silver van with two people seated in front and multiple cardboard boxes stacked in the cargo area. — Whether as a ride-share option or a delivery vehicle, the Uno packs bigger utility than you might think.

Granted, being a niche, urban-focused solution, the Uno is comparatively limited in its scope. However, even tiny kei trucks have developed a following because of their size, so there is some precedent.

In that same spirit, the Uno promises savings beyond its initial MSRP on account of its footprint and efficiency. According to Olivina’s website, its monthly operating costs work out to less than a quarter that of a traditional sedan.

Compact white electric car with black roof and roof rails parked on a cobblestone street under purple flowering trees. — How could you say no to that face?

If only as an alternative for ride-shares in low-speed environments and city centers, it’s not hard to imagine some application. When you factor in the storage, accessibility and potential for future variants, it could definitely be a hit with the right vision.

As the Uno is for Mexican roads, there’s no word right now about whether it will ever leave the domestic market. However, take a quick trip south, and you soon may be catch these in action.

White compact electric car with black roof and round headlights charging near a beige building.

Olinia Uno

About the Author: Gray is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, motorcycles and anything else with wheels. When he’s not chasing the latest industry news, he’s probably wrenching on one of many projects. For better or worse, he believes classics make perfectly practical daily drivers.