24-03-2025
What the War on Japan's Kei Trucks Says About US Road Safety
Built for the Japanese market, kei trucks have amassed a following of enthusiasts in the US, particularly among car buyers who want pickup trucks that fit the urban environment. They weigh a fraction of what a full-size US-market truck weighs, but boast similarly sized cargo beds. At a mere 11 feet long, they're also easier to maneuver in tight spaces.
But owning a kei truck in the US often means jumping through regulatory hoops, as contributor Dan Albert learned after buying a 25-year-old Honda Acty from Japan. Many state departments of motor vehicles deem the mini trucks too unsafe for US streets, due to their inability to protect passengers in the event of a collision with a typical two- or three-ton vehicle. As Albert argues, though, that says less about kei trucks — which score well on crash tests in Japan — and more about US vehicle safety standards, which have helped make roads more dangerous. Today on CityLab: Why Did the Government Declare War on My Adorable Tiny Truck?
