Why are more people buying Japanese Kei trucks?

Japan’s Kei trucks are gaining popularity in the US as buyers, especially small business owners, look for affordable alternatives to the larger and more expensive trucks available in the country.

People who use the truck say a 1998 Suzuki Carry that costs $3,800 does almost everything a big truck like a Ford 150 can do but for a much lesser amount.

Exports of Kei trucks have tripled in the last five years, rising from about 1,800 in 2018 to over 7,500 in 2023.

But
These trucks have some safety concerns due to their size and are legal in just 19 states. Each state decides if they can be used on public roads and is coming up with laws to limit their use.

For example, Rhode Island wants to stop new Kei trucks from being registered, although older ones would still be allowed. Other states, like Maine and Kansas, allow them, but not on highways.

These trucks do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which is why they can be imported only 25 years after being manufactured. The US prohibits vehicles less than 25 years old from being imported or purchased in the country if they don’t comply with FMVSS.

Many Kei trucks were made in the 1990s, outliving the 25-year import law.

These trucks can only be imported 25 years after being made, and states decide if they can be used on public roads. 

David McChristian, who leads a group supporting Kei trucks, believes some American truck manufacturers don’t want Kei trucks to be street-legal because they see them as competition.