Backed by the Mexican government, startup Olinia unveiled its first EV: the tiny, very cheap Olinia 1 (pronounced "uno"). Once on sale, the automaker is targeting a starting price of around 150,000 pesos, or around $8,600 USD at today's exchange rate.OliniaThe small EV is intended to be a cheap alternative to larger compact SUVs, especially within larger cities. That means its top speed is limited to 50 kph/31 mph. The van seats up to six, but like so many city cars, the Olinia is focused on maximizing utility with the available space, so the seats can be pulled out to accommodate larger items, or stowed away. Olinia says there will also be a cargo truck version down the line.As for the electric motor, it makes a whopping 17 horsepower, powering the rear wheels. The battery is similarly small, at 14.7 kilowatt-hours, but delivers a decent 62 miles of range. A household wall outlet will charge the EV just fine, and it'll charge in four hours with 220 volts fed to it.OliniaThe Mexican government's plans for the vehicle focus on building out infrastructure in larger cities: it wants to push for substitution of taxis using the Olinia 1, with build-out of its own charging network underway in locations like Mexico City. The nation's media showcased the car as a step away from the tariff-driven auto climate and the country's relationship with the US. Around 20.5 percent of Mexico's manufacturing gross domestic product comes from the auto industry. The industry has been anything but stable for Mexico in the last decade, first with President Trump's NAFTA negotiations and later with his tariffs on auto production across the border.This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.