US President Donald Trump's administration has announced plans to make tiny Japanese-style cars, known as Kei cars, available on US streets. The move comes despite the White House's intention to significantly roll back fuel economy standards.
In January of this year, the Biden administration had set ambitious new fuel economy targets for the automotive industry, aiming to increase the average fleet fuel economy to 50.4 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2026 and 60 mpg by 2030. However, under the Trump administration, these targets were scrapped in favor of weaker rules that would only require automakers to reach a fleet average of 34.5 mpg by model year 2031.
Despite this shift, President Trump has expressed admiration for Kei cars, which are popular in Japan due to their small size and fuel efficiency. He even asked Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to make Kei cars street-legal in the US, with the caveat that "we're not allowed to make them in this country." The president's comments were seen as a surprise move, given that Kei cars typically require significant modifications to meet US safety and emissions standards.
Automakers such as General Motors and Ford are expected to benefit from the new fuel economy rules, which will save them billions of dollars in compliance costs. In fact, a document obtained by Reuters reveals that GM stands to save $8.7 billion, while Ford and Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) will each save more than $5 billion.
However, critics argue that the move is at odds with Trump's previous claims to support environmental regulations. "I'll believe it when I see it," said a skeptical observer. Kei cars are known for their small size and limited power output, which raises concerns about their suitability for US roads.
While some enthusiasts may be excited about the prospect of importing or manufacturing Kei cars in the US, others have expressed concerns about the potential safety implications. "That's not to say you can't find Kei cars in the US," noted a spokesperson at the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, which has a collection of imported Kei cars. However, registering these vehicles for road use can be difficult or impossible in some states.
The move is seen as another example of Trump's administration's contradictory stance on environmental issues. The president's support for Kei cars may be at odds with his previous claims to promote fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
In January of this year, the Biden administration had set ambitious new fuel economy targets for the automotive industry, aiming to increase the average fleet fuel economy to 50.4 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2026 and 60 mpg by 2030. However, under the Trump administration, these targets were scrapped in favor of weaker rules that would only require automakers to reach a fleet average of 34.5 mpg by model year 2031.
Despite this shift, President Trump has expressed admiration for Kei cars, which are popular in Japan due to their small size and fuel efficiency. He even asked Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to make Kei cars street-legal in the US, with the caveat that "we're not allowed to make them in this country." The president's comments were seen as a surprise move, given that Kei cars typically require significant modifications to meet US safety and emissions standards.
Automakers such as General Motors and Ford are expected to benefit from the new fuel economy rules, which will save them billions of dollars in compliance costs. In fact, a document obtained by Reuters reveals that GM stands to save $8.7 billion, while Ford and Stellantis (formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) will each save more than $5 billion.
However, critics argue that the move is at odds with Trump's previous claims to support environmental regulations. "I'll believe it when I see it," said a skeptical observer. Kei cars are known for their small size and limited power output, which raises concerns about their suitability for US roads.
While some enthusiasts may be excited about the prospect of importing or manufacturing Kei cars in the US, others have expressed concerns about the potential safety implications. "That's not to say you can't find Kei cars in the US," noted a spokesperson at the Lane Motor Museum in Nashville, Tennessee, which has a collection of imported Kei cars. However, registering these vehicles for road use can be difficult or impossible in some states.
The move is seen as another example of Trump's administration's contradictory stance on environmental issues. The president's support for Kei cars may be at odds with his previous claims to promote fuel efficiency and reduce emissions.
, like Trump just goes back on his own promises again... can't they make up their minds? 
I mean yeah Kei cars are super cute but do we really want tiny cars on our roads? 
it's not like Japan has the same traffic issues as us. And what about safety? Those little cars have limited power output, it's a recipe for disaster! 
It's like they're speaking out of both sides of their mouth... and not in a good way 
. And I'm all for more fuel efficiency, but have you seen those Kei cars?! They're like toy cars or something! 
How can they possibly be safe on our roads? 
Not to mention the emissions... I don't know, man. This just seems like another one of Trump's contradictions. And why are automakers saving billions from these new rules? It doesn't seem right 
. What do you guys think?!
. I mean, one minute it's all about reducing emissions and promoting fuel efficiency, the next it's like "screw that" and we're gonna roll back the rules for Kei cars 
. I'm not sure what Trump's angle is here, but I've got a bad feeling about this... 
I'm also curious about how they plan to make them safe for our roads... I mean, they're not exactly built for speed or power 
. And I guess automakers are happy about it, they'll save billions 
It seems contradictory that Trump's admin is rolling back fuel economy standards but now wants to bring in these tiny cars 
.
I mean, who needs those bloated American SUVs taking up half the road? And let's be real, the fact that they're saving automakers a ton of money is just a bonus 
. Who needs the EPA when you've got tiny Japanese cars to save the day?