Trump Wants Japan’s Mini Kei Cars to Hit U.S. Roads

Trump is excited about tiny Japanese city cars and wants to bring them to America

Donald Trump is back from Japan with a new obsession, and this one might surprise you. He’s fallen in love with “Kei cars,” the tiny vehicles that zip through Tokyo’s crowded streets. Trump says they are “really cute” and wonders how they would do in America.

He even told the U.S. Department of Transportation to start looking into approving kei-style cars for the U.S. market. That’s a big deal because America usually loves SUVs and pickups. These small cars are the complete opposite.

So, what makes Kei cars special? They are super small, with engines no bigger than 660 cc. Most measure under 3.4 meters long, which makes parking and driving in tight city streets a breeze. They are cheap to run, fuel-efficient, and easy to maintain. Some popular models include the Nissan Sakura and Mitsubishi eK X EV. Both are electric and perfect for city commuters.

Getting these cars to America won’t be easy, though. U.S. safety rules and regulations are strict. Automakers would need to convert them from right-hand drive to left-hand drive. That adds cost. And Americans usually want vehicles that can handle long trips or carry lots of stuff, which Kei cars are not built for.

Still, they could find a niche. In cities with traffic jams and tight parking, a Kei car could be a smart, affordable option. Small businesses might also use Kei-style trucks or vans for deliveries.

Whether Americans will embrace these tiny cars is still up in the air. But if Trump’s push succeeds, we might soon see small, efficient Kei cars quietly cruising U.S. streets. And honestly, they could be a lot of fun to drive.