Kei car, K-car, or keijidōsha (軽自動車?, lit. "light automobile") (pronounced /keːdʑidoːɕa/), is a Japanese category of small automobiles, including passenger cars, vans, and pickup trucks. They are designed to exploit local tax and insurance relaxations, and in more rural areas are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is available for the vehicle.[1][2] These standards originated in the times following the end of the Second World War, when most Japanese could not afford a full-sized car yet had enough to buy a motorcycle. To promote the growth of the car industry, as well as to offer an alternative delivery method to small business and shop owners, kei car standards were created.

The cars feature yellow licence plates, earning them the name "yellow-plate cars" (black numbers on yellow background for private use and yellow numbers on black background for commercial use) in English and Spanish-speaking circles.[2][3][4]

Because regulations only restrict physical size, engine displacement and power, manufacturers have introduced many advanced technologies to the class. As a result, kei cars are often available with forced induction engines, automatic and CVT transmissions, front-, rear- and four-wheel drive, hybrid drivetrains, air conditioning, GPS and many other features.

Daihatsu, Honda, Mitsubishi, Smart,[5] Subaru, and Suzuki all manufacture kei cars. Nissan sells Mitsubishi and Suzuki models, while Mazda sells Suzuki models under licence.[6]

Contents

History of regulations

Date Maximum length Maximum width Maximum height Maximum displacement Maximum power
four-stroke two-stroke
8 July 1949 2.8 m (9.19 ft) 1 m (3.28 ft) 2 m (6.56 ft) 150 cc 100 cc n/a
26 July 1950 3 m (9.84 ft) 1.3 m (4.27 ft) 300 cc 200 cc
16 August 1951 360 cc 240 cc
4 April 1955 360 cc
1 January 1976 3.2 m (10.50 ft) 1.4 m (4.59 ft) 550 cc
March, 1990 3.3 m (10.83 ft) 660 cc 47 kW (64 PS; 63 hp)
1 October 1998 3.4 m (11.15 ft) 1.48 m (4.86 ft)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Minicars: Cheap and Cheerful", Peter Nunn, JAMA, January-February 2005
  2. ^ a b "Owning a Car in Japan", ALTs in Sendai
  3. ^ Automobiles, jetsetjapan.com
  4. ^ "Shakoshomei 車庫証明(proof that you have a place to park your car)", Driving in Tokachi, city.obihiro.hokkaido.jp
  5. ^ "Small Things in Good Packages", Jerry Garrett, New York Times, November 25, 2007
  6. ^ "Nissan Adds Third Minicar to its Lineup in Japan", Edmunds.com, June 6, 2005

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kei cars

Categories: Kei cars | Car classifications

 

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