Peter Lyon
June 9, 2025
In a scenario straight out of a Pixar film, cheerful-looking little trucks can be seen shooting through the streets of Japan on their way to and from businesses and work sites. With little two-seater pickups that are ideal for everything from landscaping to food delivery, it’s how the nation completes a majority of its tasks. These tiny trucks are everywhere. Literally!!
So the question being asked is—would a transport solution like this work in the U.S.? Legislators in Oregon certainly appear to agree.
State Senator Anthony Broadman introduced Bill 1213 this Wednesday, which, if approved, would permit the lawful use of kei trucks on Oregon roadways (although with certain limitations). One of the states that currently prohibits kei trucks on public highways is Oregon. Importing one is possible, but registering it as a road vehicle is not.
So what is a kei truck? Firstly it’s Japanese and it actually stands for ‘kei-jidōsha,’ which translates as a vehicle that is regulated by engine displacement and body dimensions. Normally very small. Although there have been some modifications over the years, the 1949 regulations have produced a whole ecology of happy tiny work machines, including the Honda S660 and Autozam AZ-1 of the early 90s.
Something like a Honda Acty truck must be no longer than 11 feet, 6.6 feet tall, and 4.9 feet wide in order to be considered a kei. Power and displacement are limited to 63 horsepower and 660 ccs, respectively, although engines can be turbocharged (which kind of adds to the thrill of these lightweight larrikins. The proposed bill from Oregon keeps those rules in place and adds that the vehicle must be 25 years of age or older, come from South Korea or Japan, and adhere to federal import laws.
That may seem insignificant, but it’s not. Kei trucks are already widely used for deliveries and other tasks by small enterprises in the US and Canada. The bed of the third-generation Honda Acty, which is now importable, is slightly less than six feet, four inches long and has a payload capacity of 440 pounds. Although it only makes up a third of what a Ford Maverick can tow, it is sufficient for a variety of jobs.
Furthermore, because they are so striking in appearance, kei trucks provide a moving billboard effect in addition to being a lot of fun to drive. There are many kei truck enthusiasts in Texas and Colorado, two states that have legalised the importation of the vehicle. The market is solid despite being a specialised one.
But there is a safety problem with Oregon’s strategy. A kei truck is obviously designed for Japan’s winding roads, which typically have low speed limits. If Bill 1213 is approved, driving a kei truck on Oregon’s standard road network will be prohibited. Drivers will have to take the back roads.
CARLIST THOUGHTS
Kei trucks are huge business in Japan—they basically keep the country running! But if your Portland store offers antique apparel with bird illustrations, there’s good news: your delivery van may be on its way. There are many secondhand little trucks searching for new homes on the Pacific coast, although kei-jidōsha cars are less frequent in Japan now that several laws have changed in 2014. Prepare to put a bid on it and ship one over.
