Consumer acceptance and engineering requirements for accessible mini electric vehicles: the Olinia case in Southern Jalisco, Mexico

The adoption of electric vehicles in emerging and non-metropolitan regions depends on functional suitability, affordability, technical trust, charging conditions, and local support capacity. This study analyzes consumer needs, perceptions, and attitudes toward accessible electric vehicles in southern Jalisco, Mexico, using the Olinia mini electric vehicle as a case study. A cross-sectional survey was administered face-to-face to 640 adults across urban and semi-urban municipalities. The analysis combined descriptive statistics, reliability testing, exploratory factor analysis, ordered logistic regression models, user segmentation, and qualitative coding of open-ended responses. Results show that most daily mobility needs are compatible with Olinia’s proposed technical concept, particularly its approximate 100 km range and urban-use orientation. However, acceptance is conditional. Functional fit was the strongest positive predictor of willingness to consider and purchase the vehicle, while perceived risk related to reliability and driving range reduced willingness to adopt. The segmentation analysis identified four user profiles with different information, financing, trust, and service needs. The study contributes by translating consumer perceptions into engineering and infrastructure requirements, showing that adoption will depend on real-world range testing, safe domestic charging, local technical capacity, and credible after-sales support.