Hyundai Motor has launched its compact EV in Japan at 2.85 million yen (around US$18,000), making it the least expensive of its kind in the country.

The Inster was previously introduced in South Korea as the Casper Electric and later in Europe.

Orders for the vehicle can be placed starting Friday, reflecting Hyundai’s efforts to strengthen its presence in Japan after re-entering the market in 2022. The focus is on electric and fuel cell vehicles.

Last year, Hyundai sold just 607 vehicles in Japan. In contrast, China’s BYD, which employs a similar low-cost EV strategy, sold 2,223 cars during the same period. Tesla has not disclosed its sales figures in Japan.

The annual passenger car sales in Japan average around 4 million units.

Recent Hyundai developments