Toyota is reviving its Scion brand with the KEI-01, a right-hand-drive Kei-class mini-truck, responding to President Trump's push to legalize Japan's tiny 'Kei' vehicles in the US. While Trump wants the Department of Transportation to allow these sub-4-foot-wide, low-emission microtrucks, DoT has not yet confirmed any regulatory changes, leaving the move in a grey area. Kei cars are extremely popular in Japan due to size and tax benefits, but their legality for US import and road use remains uncertain.
Background
Japan's Kei car category is a government-defined class of compact, low-tax vehicles restricted to specific dimensions and engine size; they account for nearly 40% of Japanese car sales but face import barriers in the US. The US currently allows limited imports only for vehicles over 25 years old or through narrow exemptions, with no formal pathway for newer Kei cars.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Nov 11, 2026 at 11:25 PM
- Score
- 6.0 / 10