Yay for Kei? Owners of the Tiny Imports Cheering in Massachusetts

When we last left the tale of the Kei trucks, cars, and vans (Kei comes from keijidōsha, Japanese for light vehicle)—very small vehicles that are typically short of required safety features to be conventionally imported into the U.S. for use on public roadways—it wasn’t the U.S. but individual states that were generally coming down hard on them.

According to the Japanese Used Motor Vehicle statistics, 7594 Kei trucks were imported into the U.S. last year. Ten years ago, before many of these Japanese market vehicles met the 25-year age limit to legally import into the U.S., that number was 797. For balance, Ford sold 750,789 new F-150s in 2023.

Since they are not built to the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, only Kei vehicles that are older than 25 years can be imported into the U.S., because vehicles that elderly aren’t subject to Federal Motor Vevhicle Safety Standards.

Despite the obstacles, there are multiple companies in the U.S. that will handle importation and sell you a Kei. The most popular vehicle type is the Kei truck, perfect for light delivery, landscaping, farm use, and just driving, because so many Kei fans like the compact, easy-to-park nature of the truck. Plus, well, they’re cute.

And as we all know, the best way to make Americans want something is to tell them they can’t have it.

When our story ran in June, there wasn’t much good news for Kei owners regarding states’ blessing, aside from an uneasy truce in Texas. But now comes word that the state of Massachusetts has formally endorsed Kei usage and registration.

As of Tuesday, here’s the Massachusetts legal line: “The Registry of Motor Vehicles has completed its preliminary assessment of industry standards related to Kei trucks, cars and vans. At this time, owners of Kei Vehicles will be able to register these vehicles effective September 18, 2024. Kei Vehicles that are already registered may continue their existing registration and renewals, without interruption.

“The RMV intends to register Kei Vehicles while continuing to review safety implications of Kei Vehicles on the public roadways. Plans for conducting a formal study of this subject matter are under development and will be announced once complete.

“Newly registered Kei Vehicles may receive a passenger or commercial plate, depending on their intended use. Owners who wish to register and title their Kei Vehicles may do so by visiting their local RMV Service Center.”

This gives Kei advocates throughout the U.S. a solid precedent to argue in other states, and should soon provide a Kei database to refer to regarding usage, wrecks, and the like. It’s a major step forward for the Kei movement; let’s see what happens next.