folofly Co., Ltd. (CEO: Hiroyasu Koma, Headquarters: Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture) announced that on October 1, 2021, it received approval from the Kinki District Transport Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, confirming that its 1-ton class delivery electric vehicle, produced through Japan’s first fabless production, complies with road transport safety standards, and was issued a license plate.
The initial vehicle has been introduced to SBS Holdings Co., Ltd. (President: Masahiko Kamata, Headquarters: Sumida-ku, Tokyo), a major logistics company, which has decided on the full-scale adoption of this vehicle for its last-mile delivery operations.
The vehicle now available for sale is a 1-ton class EV truck, a category previously unavailable from domestic manufacturers. Designed by folofly based on Japanese safety standards, it is produced by a Chinese manufacturer through OEM production. This 1-ton EV truck is ideal for last-mile deliveries, equipped with a battery capable of a 300km range, and is the largest EV that can be operated with a standard driver’s license. The general retail price is 3.8 million yen per unit, comparable to gasoline vehicles.
1-ton class delivery electric vehicles are well-suited for “last-mile” deliveries from the nearest logistics hub to the end user. With growing environmental awareness and the expansion of e-commerce demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic, expectations are high within the logistics industry.
The SBS Group currently operates approximately 2,000 vehicles for e-commerce last-mile deliveries and plans to replace these with EVs over the next five years. Including vehicles from partner companies, they aim to introduce about 10,000 EVs in the medium term.
Masahiko Kamata, President of SBS Group, commented:
“The supply of EVs from folofly represents a significant advancement in our efforts toward decarbonization and contribution to the global environment. We have invested in folofly and will support their future growth while swiftly advancing the introduction of next-generation vehicles.”
Hiroyasu Koma, CEO of folofly, stated:
“Our collaboration with SBS Group marks an important step toward realizing a decarbonized society in Japan. Given the diverse needs within the logistics industry and the current limited EV options domestically, we aim to enhance our lineup of environmentally friendly vehicles by significantly reducing development costs through joint development with automotive manufacturers both domestically and internationally, incorporating features demanded by the market.”