Saturday, December 06, 2025

Trump Wants Japanese Kei Cars Sold in U.S.

President Donald Trump, apparently enamored by the pint-size kei cars he saw during his recent trip to Japan, has paved the way for them to be made and sold in the US, despite concerns they're too small and slow to be driven safely on American roads. "They're very small, they're really cute, and I said 'How would that do in this country?'" Trump told reporters on Wednesday at the White House, as he outlined plans to relax stringent Biden-era fuel efficiency standards.

Posted by tfdnihilist at 11:30 AM | 23 COMMENTS | permalink

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President Trump, apparently enamored by the pint-sized Kei cars he saw during his recent trip to Japan, has paved the way for them to be made and sold in the US despite concerns

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-- Bloomberg News (@bloomberg.com) Dec 3, 2025 at 11:07 PM

Comments

Finally something we can agree on! I love my '95 ACTY pick up. Just took it on a 2300 mile trip from Florida to the Shenandoahs.

#1 | Posted by TFDNihilist at 2025-12-04 12:06 PM

TFD:

oiwagarage.co

#2 | Posted by Corky at 2025-12-04 01:00 PM

A "shiny new object" caught the Dotard-in-Chief's eye while he was awake and so sycophantic Sean Duffy will jump through hoops for the Dark Lord.

#3 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-12-04 02:26 PM

#2 | Posted by Corky

Mine is not nearly as nice as that one. I have ordered parts from them.

#4 | Posted by TFDNihilist at 2025-12-04 02:48 PM

This man is such an embarrassment.

But I would love to see Trumpers sell their F-150s and start driving around in little Shriners cars.

#5 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-12-06 11:39 AM

Trump told UAW he'd protect them from new foreign competition and they decided to not endorse Harris. Now he's wanting to do exactly the opposite. Suckers!

#6 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2025-12-06 12:12 PM

Why not just relax the rules on highway use of UTV's on American roads? At least most UTV's already have roll-cages. I doubt if they're any more dangerous than these Kei cars.

Where I live, UTV's are already generally allowed on the roads, as long as they stay off the State and US highway's.

#7 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2025-12-06 01:12 PM

#1 | Posted by TFDNihilist

#2 | Posted by Corky

I've already seen several of those on our local roads, as well.

#8 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2025-12-06 01:14 PM

If golf carts, UTV's and ATV's are allowed on certain roads KEI should also be allowed.

#10 | Posted by bat4255 at 2025-12-06 04:11 PM

I've gotten mine up to 72 on I-95. Not bad for a 660 engine and 12 in. wheels. I've also driven it on the Blue Ridge Parkway and other winding mountain roads. It's a beast.

#12 | Posted by TFDNihilist at 2025-12-06 07:00 PM

An actual good idea from the orange menace? Weird.

And they're ALREADY on US roads. They just have to be 25 years old to be imported, because our automotive laws are stupid.

We really did go way overboard on safety regulations. Make it optional, if you want to buy a car with airbags and seat belts, go for it. But given that motorcycles are allowed, I should be able to buy a car without that crap.

#13 | Posted by DarkVader at 2025-12-06 07:06 PM

Must be fun to drive on the Parkway.

They are used on farms and ranches quite often just to do stuff around the property.

#14 | Posted by Corky at 2025-12-06 07:09 PM

If Trumpanzee had any nuggets, he would push American car makers to make smaller cars rather than figure out a way to finagle tariff money to skim off. This country... the usa... always blabs on and on about its fekking brilliance... yet they can't make small cars and turn a profit... idiots

I love small cars... I miss my small pick-ups... not as small as that one... but I could see driving one of my own... if I ever buy another car.

#15 | Posted by RightisTrite at 2025-12-06 07:54 PM

@#6 ... Trump told UAW he'd protect them from new foreign competition and they decided to not endorse Harris. Now he's wanting to do exactly the opposite. ...

You noticed that also?

#16 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-06 07:56 PM

#11 You are an idiot.

How many redneck golf carts and utv's you see on the turnpike?

#17 | Posted by bat4255 at 2025-12-07 01:25 PM

@#6 ... Trump told UAW he'd protect them from new foreign competition and they decided to not endorse Harris. Now he's wanting to do exactly the opposite. ...
You noticed that also?
#16 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-12-06 07:56 PM | Reply

Yeah, KEI cars are really what people want, not SUVs. Tariffs on those SUVs from China, currently 240%. Protectionism is full effect. Thanks Trump?

Separately, wait until you find out the majority of UAW members aren't actually in the automotive industry. A bunch of them woke up to find out they're not professionals anymore.

#18 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-12-07 01:31 PM

Trump Wants Japanese Kei Cars Sold in U.S.

That's an "America First" move if there ever was one.

#19 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2025-12-07 04:38 PM

A 656 CC engine? Geeze, my motorcycle engine is bigger than that. To be honest I miss my small sized economy pickup truck. While it would not be competition for the Acty as far as capability goes, it was never meant to be, designed for a different market.

What I liked about the compact pickup, was gas mileage, cheaper to fill because of a smaller gas tank, and yet you could haul a bit of stuff with it. Today's monster sized factory pickups are not what I need nor what I desire. I want a truck that costs less than $20 to fill up, gets around 30 mph on the highway, and is not designed to move a house, just maybe a run to the grocery store for several months of groceries at one haul. Nor did they cost $50K+ to buy one new.

#20 | Posted by BBQ at 2025-12-07 11:56 PM

Today's monster sized factory pickups are not what I need nor what I desire.

There's truth there. I bought an F-250 last year and it's a good foot taller than the one I had in '85. Not sure what happened with that.

#21 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-12-08 12:00 AM

Trump Wants Japanese Kei Cars Sold in U.S.
That's an "America First" move if there ever was one.

#19 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2025-12-07 04:38 PM | Reply

75% of Japanese cars sold in America are made in US/Mexico/Canada.

The point is to unwind safety regulations. That's the only thing stopping a US company from making and selling tiny, road legal cars/trucks that don't have US-required safety equipment.

#22 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-12-08 08:13 AM

An actual good idea from the orange menace? Weird.

We really did go way overboard on safety regulations. Make it optional

#13 | Posted by DarkVader at 2025-12-06 07:06 PM | Reply | Flag:

See what I mean lol. It's a niche for the I'm Not Wearing A Helmet crowd.

#23 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-12-08 08:14 AM

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