President Donald Trump has set his sights on Japan's smallest cars—kei cars—and wants them available in the US market. On 3 December, he directed regulators to legalise kei cars, the compact microcars he encountered during an Asia trip, comparing them to the iconic VW Beetle. The move could revolutionise affordable city driving in America.
However, the context is complex. While Trump has also relaxed fuel economy standards to accommodate gas-guzzlers, kei cars stand out as highly fuel-efficient vehicles, delivering between 50 and 70 mpg. These pint-sized vehicles dominate around 40% of Japan's car market, yet remain banned in the US—although kei trucks are already on sale in 30 states.
