TOKYO: Seven-Eleven Japan Co has announced to sell a special car based on the popular anime “Neon Genesis Evangelion” with the price tag of ¥16 million ($139,000), the highest-ever price in commodity dealing.
Japanese singer-songwriter Daigo and actress Natsuki Kato inaugurated the special car in a glamorous ceremony. The nation’s largest convenience store operator said it will accept pre-orders at Seven-Eleven stores around the country from Friday through Nov 30.
The lucky buyer will be decided by lot, the firm said. Once the winner agrees to purchase it, the car will be ready in five months. The vehicle is based on Mitsuoka Motor Co.’s Orochi supercar.
The ¥16 million, including sales tax, is the highest price Seven-Eleven has ever charged for a single item, according to the firm.
The vehicle was designed by Ikuto Yamashita, who is in charge of designing mechanical devices, including robots, for the “Evangelion” anime. The colour scheme includes patterns in vivid purple, green and yellow, making it reminiscent of Evangelion Unit 01, a “mecha” in the anime series.
Seven-Eleven Japan has held campaigns in collaboration with “Evangelion” before. In August, the convenience store chain sold 25 life-size Evangelion Unit 01 statues. They sold out in just two minutes despite carrying a price tag of ¥1.83 million each.
