The Latest Breaking News from KEI

In November 2024, I wrote a story about imported Kei trucks and the state-level restrictions being placed on them across the country. In Texas, the Department of Motor Vehicles simply changed its policy, preventing owners from registering with the state, even though the vehicles were 25 years old or older,…

You probably couldn't tell by looking at it, but this isn't a real R32 Nissan Skyline. I know, shocking. Japanese tuner Rocket Bunny turned a Suzuki Twin—a short-lived Kei car sold only in Japan from 2003 to 2005—into a miniature Nissan Skyline R32. And it's absolutely adorable.

Update: In an emailed response to Motor1's questions, a Department of Transportation spokesperson told us:

A bipartisan bill introduced in Oregon this week would legalize the registering of imported Kei trucks. If passed, the state would become the latest to take direct action to protect these vehicles when they comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

A good portion of Americans love the humble Kei truck. Even though they were never sold here, and F-150s reign supreme, folks have gotten on board with the minuscule muscle as they're cheap to buy, cheap to fix, and work like fine Swiss watches. That is, they never break down…

What began as a celebration of Japan's custom car culture is a now a major event for many of the country's biggest automakers. We round up the news from Tokyo Auto Salon 2025

Kei truck advocates in Colorado appear to have won the battle against a proposed mini-truck ban. An email from the Colorado Department of Revenue, Division of Motor Vehicles, states the agency has canceled the rule change it proposed in August.

There's a reason Americans seem increasingly fascinated with Japanese Kei vehicles: It's amazing to see small cars winning. The past two decades have seen Americans completely scorn anything small, cheap and simple, moving towards ever-bigger, ever-more "premium" options. That's why our three best-selling EVs are all made by Tesla, a…

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Liberty Walk certainly knows how to turn heads with its projects. The Japanese tuner has been working its widebody magic on sports cars, supercars, and Kei cars since the early 1990s. Now, the shop is taking its scalpel to an Italian icon: The Lamborghini Miura.