At World Distributors on Dundonald Street on a recent day, two cars sat in the showroom incongruously among scooters.

The vehicles are Neta Vs, manufactured in China and now available in Bermuda.

The electric vehicles are the latest addition to a growing and dynamic market, which only promises to become more so as the island makes the transition to a zero-emissions future.

World Distributors has seven Neta Vs in stock and is selling them through its WD Auto brand name (wdauto.bm). They retail for $34,500.

The company has an exclusive agreement for Bermuda with the manufacturer, and has three more of the vehicles in transit at the moment.

“The more of them I get on the road, the more interest they will generate,” said Eugene Bothello, president, World Distributors.

At least one unit has been sold, and a few customers may be close to signing.

The Neta V is made in Zhejiang, China by Hozon Auto. It is described by the maker as a five-door crossover SUV. Fully electric, it recharges in six hours — and faster with a quick charger — can go 380 kilometres on charge and accelerates from 0 to 50 km/h in 3.9 seconds.

“Styling is top shelf,” said Steven Panchaud, vice-president of service and operations. “There’s been quite a bit of interest.”

World Distributors has four colours available: white, sky blue, cyan green and charcoal grey.

They are good-sized vehicles, the dealer emphasises.

The Neta V is in the Class E category, according to Department of Transport Control standards. Class E cars are those 156 to 162 inches in length, and are towards the larger end of the range, with the scale topping out at Class H.

A Twizy is a Class A car.

Electric cars are slated to be a big part of Bermuda’s transportation future, with internal combustion engine vehicles to be phased out by 2035.

The Government is directly and indirectly supporting the transition. In early 2022, 30 electric buses were delivered from China, and 40 more have been ordered.

According to Bermuda Customs Tariff 2023, passenger vehicles “with only electric motor for propulsion” are charged a duty of 0 per cent, though this is being reconsidered as the Government fears losing revenue as electric vehicles start to dominate the market.

Other vehicles, including hybrids, attract tariffs of at least 35 per cent.

A number of other dealers are selling electric vehicles in Bermuda.

Renault offers the New Zoe, at $46,950, and the Twizy, at $18,500. Evolution Motors sells the MG ZS EV and the $20,595 Panda, made by Zingking Tech, of Shandong, China. ECO Electric Vehicles is selling the ECO EV1, which is made by Weifang Ruichi Automotive Systems in Shandong, China.

Bermuda Motors sells the Electric Mini Cooper SE, a Class D vehicle priced at $49,500, and the Kia Soul EV, a Class F vehicle also priced at $49,500.

The Neta V, which is marketed heavily in Thailand and Malaysia, features a minimalist interior with a 14.6-inch infotainment screen, much like that found in a Tesla. More than 300,000 have been sold globally.

It features a roomy rear luggage space, which is 335 litres in size, and expands to 552 litres with the rear seat folded down.

World Distributors has been in operation since 1960. While its main business has traditionally been the sales and service of internal combustion engine powered bikes, its has extended its range into two-wheeled electric vehicle. The next step was electric cars.

“It was a natural progression,” Mr Panchaud said.