Nissan Sakura
The $13,000 Sakura has quickly become one of Japan's most popular cars.
  • The 11-foot-long Nissan Sakura is Japan's best-selling electric vehicle, per Bloomberg.
  • The $13,000 "Kei car" has left rivals such as Tesla in the dust.
  • Mini "Kei trucks" are taking off in the US, with some being sold for as little as $5,000.

Tesla may dominate the global EV market — but for drivers in Japan, a $13,000 tiny car is proving a better investment.

According to data compiled by Bloomberg, the Sakura — a $13,000 minicar developed jointly by Nissan and Mitsubishi — is the best-selling electric car in Japan this year, accounting for around half of all EVs sold in the country so far this year. The cost of the vehicle includes government subsidies, per Bloomberg.