Why America's love for Japanese 'kei' trucks is growing

Detailed summary

Cheap, compact and uniquely Japanese, 'kei' trucks are attracting a growing following in the United States. More than 30,000 of them have been shipped from Japan over the past…

Cheap, compact and uniquely Japanese, 'kei' trucks are attracting a growing following in the United States. More than 30,000 of them have been shipped from Japan over the past five years, according to industry estimates. But in many states, restrictions limit where and how they can be driven. Now enthusiasts are pushing lawmakers to ease restrictions and put more of them on American roads. NHK World's Inoue Yuki reports.

At a used vehicle dealership in Pennsylvania, rows of full-sized American pickup trucks are nowhere to be seen. Instead, the lot is packed with much smaller vehicles imported from Japan. Kei ― meaning "light" in Japanese ― is the country's smallest category of four-wheeled vehicles. Mini-trucks can be found all over the world, but the kei specifications strictly conform to the Japanese government’s regulations on size and engine capacity. The trucks are widely used on farms, construction sites and in other industries, and are known for their practicality and efficiency.

One truck on the lot stands out. A bright red vehicle had recently arrived from Japan and still carried markings identifying it as a former fire brigade vehicle from Kani City in Gifu Prefecture.

Interest in kei trucks is growing rapidly across the United States. During NHK's visit, two more of the vehicles arrived from Japan.

Among those helping meet the demand is Jake Simpson, owner of Lancaster Mini Truck. He began importing kei trucks three years ago and says he has sold roughly 300 of them.

Simpson's fascination with the vehicles started when he purchased one from a friend. "It was like I felt like a celebrity driving it," he says. "I couldn't go to a gas station without somebody asking me about it." He believes affordability is a major reason for their popularity."Four-wheel drive, low mileage, roughly 40 miles to the gallon, and they cost between 6,000 and 8,000 dollars," he says. "A pickup truck in the US can cost 60,000 dollars."

Supporters say kei trucks offer more than just…

The…

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