Trump invites ‘cute’ Japanese kei trucks to come to America
Japan’s little kei trucks have a new fan: President Donald Trump.
Trump expressed his admiration for these small cars during a briefing with reporters to announce his plan to roll back fuel economy standards. “They’re very small. They’re really cute,” Trump said. “And I said, how would that happen in this country? And everyone seems to think, fine, but you’re not allowed to build them.”
Kei vehicles, built to meet Japanese light-duty vehicle regulations, are enjoying growing popularity in the automotive market, including here in the United States. Sales of kei trucks have tripled over the past five years, with a total of about 7,500 imported last year, according to data from Japan Used Motor Vehicle cited by CNN.
“They’re very small. They’re really cute.”
Comparing them to the Volkswagen Beetle, Trump said he was authorizing the U.S. Department of Transportation “to immediately approve the production of these cars.”
“He gave me direction to clarify the regulations on this, which we have,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at the press briefing. “And so if Toyota or any other company wants to make smaller, more affordable, fuel-efficient cars, we’ve opened the doors so they can make them in America and sell them in America.”
A USDOT spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about the specific authorization Trump granted Duffy.
Indeed, regulations regarding the legality of kei vehicles in the United States are spotty. Federal rules allow mini-trucks to be imported as long as they are 25 years old or older, while state laws regarding their on-road legality and registration are less clear. Vehicles would also have to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards, which dictate everything from steering wheel placement to vehicle weight.
That said, many states have rules allowing low-speed vehicles like golf carts, so it’s conceivable that kei trucks could override those provisions.
As for whether they would sell, that’s another question. Kei vehicles, short for “keitora,” which means “light truck,” are subject to strict guidelines regarding engine, size and power limits. And while they certainly have a US customer base, they’re probably too small for the majority of US shoppers.
Of course, the purpose of the briefing was to announce the rollback of the strict energy efficiency rules put in place by the Biden administration. Trump has said the goal is to make cars more affordable, but most experts predict that savings from cheaper vehicles will be offset by higher fuel costs over time.
