June 9 (UPI) — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum unveiled Olinia Uno, the first electric vehicle designed and developed in her country as part of a strategy to promote technological innovation and strengthen domestic industry.

The announcement was held Sunday in one of the hangars at the Santa Lucía Military Air Base in the state of Mexico. During the event, Sheinbaum drove the mini car, which has a capacity of six passengers and adapted to transport people in wheelchairs.

The vehicle has entered the production phase and is to begin commercial sales in summer 2027 with a starting price of 150,000 Mexican pesos, equivalent to about $8,000, according to project officials. It is made by CSP Olinia, a subsidiary of Grupo CSP. under a government-backed project.

The car is being developed at a time when Mexico ranks among the world’s seven largest vehicle manufacturers and seeks to expand its presence in the electric mobility sector.

“Olinia represents much more than an electric vehicle. It is the vision of a Mexico that harnesses the intelligence and creativity of its young people to fully join the digital and technological development that is transforming the world through our own path,” Sheinbaum said during the announcement, Aristegui Noticias reported.

She said the project demonstrates that Mexico can move beyond its traditional role as a recipient of foreign investment.

“It is proof that Mexico can go beyond being simply a recipient of investment. It can generate knowledge, develop technology, design solutions and create value from our own capabilities,” Sheinbaum said.

She added that Olinia aims to become the foundation of a new national technology industry through collaboration among universities, research centers, the government and the private sector.

“It is the seed of an industry at the national level that can grow from the ground up, driven by the knowledge, creativity and work of thousands of Mexican men and women,” she said.

According to its developers, Olinia Uno has a 14.7-kilowatt-hour battery, a range of more than 77.7 miles per charge and a top speed of 31 mph. The vehicle was designed primarily for short-distance urban travel.

According to data from Motor Pasión México, its operating cost is approximately 79 cents per mile, about five times less than that of a gasoline-powered vehicle with similar capabilities.

Based on the company’s estimates, users could save more than 50,000 Mexican pesos per year, equivalent to about $2,700, in fuel expenses.

The vehicle currently incorporates 50% domestic content, although the company said it plans to increase that to 75% soon.

Project officials also announced that, once the 2026 FIFA World Cup concludes, they will introduce a new version called Olinia Cargo, designed for freight transportation.