Does the US want kei cars?

President Donald Trump has opened the door for kei cars to be produced and sold in the US, saying he was impressed by the compact vehicles during his recent trip to Japan. 

Trump said the small cars may help solve the vehicle affordability issue and has asked Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to approve production by automakers. 

The move would relax strict Biden-era fuel-efficiency rules.

Vehicles that come under this category are roughly 11 feet long, less than 5 feet wide, and a little over 6.5 feet tall.

However, they currently fail to meet US safety standards. Although American enthusiasts import older models under a 25-year exemption, many states restrict them to private land or low-speed zones because they are too small and slow to mix safely with larger trucks and SUVs.

Analysts say kei cars remain a niche market in the US, and pricing challenges limit feasibility despite their popularity in Japan, where they make up one-third of new vehicle sales.