Trump invites “nice” Japanese Kei trucks to come to America

Kei pickup trucks from Japan have a new fan: President Donald Trump.

Trump expressed his admiration for small-sized cars during a press conference with reporters to announce his plan Fuel economy standards. “She’s very young. She’s really cute,” Trump said. “And I said, ‘What would it be like in this country?’ And everyone seems to think it’s a good thing, but you’re not allowed to build it.”

Kei cars, which are designed to meet Japan’s light-duty vehicle regulations, are enjoying increasing popularity in the automobile market — including here in the United States. Sales of Kei trucks have tripled in the past five years, with about 7,500 trucks imported last year alone, according to data from Japan Used Cars. Quoted from CNN.

Comparing it to the Volkswagen Beetle, Trump said he would allow the US Department of Transportation to “immediately approve production of those cars.”

“He gave me direction to clarify the regulations on this, which we have,” US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at the press conference. “So if Toyota or any other company wants to make smaller, more affordable, fuel-efficient cars, we’ve cleared the deck so they can build them in America and sell them in America.”

A USDOT spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about the specific authorization Trump gave Duffy.

Indeed, regulation regarding the legality of KI compounds in the United States is spotty. Federal rules allow pickup trucks to be imported as long as they are 25 years old or older, while state laws surrounding their legality and on-road registration are less clear. The vehicles will also need to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which dictate everything from steering wheel position to vehicle weight.

However, many states have rules allowing low-speed vehicles such as golf carts, so it is possible for K-trucks to slip under these provisions.

However, whether they will sell it is another question. Kei vehicles, short for “keitora,” which means “light truck,” have strict guidelines about engine, size and power limits. And while they certainly have a following in the United States, they are probably too small for the majority of American buyers.

Naturally, the purpose of the briefing was to announce a rollback of the Biden administration’s strict fuel efficiency rules. Trump said the goal is to make cars more affordable, but most experts expect any savings from lower-priced vehicles will be offset by higher fuel costs over time.