Yakuza Karishma Electric Car

The Yakuza Karishma was launched in September 2023 by Yakuza EV, a Sirsa (Haryana) based company, as one of India's most affordable electric cars at around Rs 1.70 lakh ex-showroom. It quickly drew attention - and Tata Nano comparisons - for putting a covered, car-like EV within reach of buyers who would otherwise look at e-rickshaws.

Since launch, Yakuza has been expanding through dealerships in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, where its low price and home-socket charging suit short local journeys. The trade-off remains the same: a modest 50 to 60 km range, a 50 km/h top speed and basic safety, so it is best understood as an ultra-budget city micro-EV rather than a conventional car.

The Yakuza Karishma is built for slow, short city trips. Its small battery (around 2.7 kWh) gives a claimed range of 50 to 60 km, and the top speed is about 50 km/h. Exact motor power has not been clearly specified by the company.

In practice, this means it works well for local errands, narrow lanes and last-mile use, but it is not suited to highways or longer journeys. Treat the range as best-case; real-world figures will depend heavily on load, terrain and driving style.

Safety is very basic, in line with the price. The Yakuza Karishma has seatbelts and a reverse parking camera to help with low-speed manoeuvring, but it does not offer airbags, and it has not been crash-tested by any NCAP body. As a low-speed micro-EV, it lacks the structural safety of a conventional car, so it should be used accordingly - for slow, local driving rather than fast or highway travel.

Charging is as simple as it gets: the Yakuza Karishma plugs into a regular home socket and takes about 6 to 7 hours for a full charge. There is no DC fast charging, and no special wall box is required - which keeps ownership cheap and easy for short daily trips. The battery configuration can vary, so confirm the exact battery type and charging details with your dealer before buying.

Yakuza offers a manufacturer warranty on the Karishma, but exact terms (especially on the battery) vary and are best confirmed directly with the dealer before purchase. As this is a budget micro-EV from a smaller manufacturer, it is worth clarifying after-sales support, service availability and battery warranty in your area before booking.