[mdtusz]

In the PNW these are absolutely everywhere and for good reason - they're exactly what most people need when they need a truck bed for hauling capacity. Plus, many are 4/AWD and have relatively high clearance so they're great adventure wagons for forest roads and getting out there.

If a manufacturer made a truck similar (or slightly larger - not much room for people 6' and over in them) available for the market here, I'm sure they'd sell well. Seems like the biggest impediment is the safety laws here though and American insistence on having the biggest vehicle on the road.

[sellmesoap]

Another advantage for off-road kei trucks is they are narrow, allowing you to drive around obstacles that you would need a lot of clearance (big tires/lift kits.) A lot of trails in the PNW get overgrown and a narrow vehicle that weighs less causes less trail erosion and can squeeze past obstacles rather then going over them. My understanding is that in Japan insurance cost is based on your odometer, and there are strict inspection and maintenance requirements (mandatory replacement of suspension after so many KMs) so most of these vehicles are lightly used before export. I notice saber rattling by the auto industry here in B.C. trying to limit imports, I see this as a regulatory capture move, I'm not impressed!

[yomlica8]

Trucks used to be cheap utility vehicles with fairly basic mechanics, but they've turned in giant luxury land yachts with a price to match. They aren't even a good fit for a lot of kinds of work anymore.

If we allow motorcycles to drive on roads I don't see why we couldn't have some sort of limited road use exemption for these simple vehicles. At the very least you should be able to just buy them for farm use.

[rootusrootus]

In Oregon, Kei cars are specifically illegal, they cannot be titled or registered. Other states are following a similar path so definitely make sure you can title it before you buy it.

[nabilhat]

> In Oregon, Kei cars are specifically illegal...

That's what the OR DMV suggests, but this is their own made-up policy, not law. They didn't even bother putting it in writing until relatively recently. So far they've failed to put their actively enforced kei policy into Oregon law [0]. They simply decided to stonewall a subset of 80's and 90's Japanese cars.

It's not about safety, or emissions, or top speed, or size. Titling and registering underpowered microcars from not-Japan is quick and painless. Pre-80's kei is fine too. Multiple pre-'80's Subaru 360 and Mazda R360 literally-kei cars sport current Oregon license plates, also relatively more common eventually-kei pre-'80's examples like Honda N600/Z600/S600. Also kit cars, street rods, from-scratch homebuilt cars, and literal golf carts the DMV is explicitly happy to title and register [1]. All they're unilaterally regulating is the taint of one specific Japanese initiative that they don't like.

Just for fun, kei trucks now get a vaguely worded exception. So if you feel like a gamble it could be possible to buy one and legally drive it to your mailbox or tow behind your RV. Or you'll draw an uncooperative DMV employee, and depending on where you live, zoning or your HOA might force you to destroy it if they catch you keeping it quietly locked up in your garage. The DMV can create an illegal situation that you are liable for by refusing to title a car, even though the car itself isn't illegal by law.

Oregon DMV's policies have long been inconsistent, arbitrary, capricious, and some other things besides.

[0] https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/ors/ors801.html

[1] https://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/DMV/Pages/vehicle/vehicletypes.a...

[kotaKat]

Register a Montana-based LLC and shove the kei into registration in Montana. If rich folks can do it to evade taxes on their supercars, we can do it to evade registration requirements...

[greggsy]

Is that for safety or market protection reasons?

[bane]

Curious, if you were to drive one into Oregon, what would happen?

[mutex_man]

CAFE regulations basically make it so no manufacturer will touch that market. The yearly MPG requirements for vehicle manufacturers are heavily influenced by the vehicle size (track width and wheelbase). Bigger footprint means lower MPG target, that's why every new truck now is massive, and they don't make small trucks anymore like the old Tacomas and Rangers.

[chihuahua]

If by "they are absolutely everywhere" you mean "I've seen one of them in 25 years of living here", then I agree.

[mdtusz]

Forgetting that BC exists entirely. If you search "Kei" on Craigslist Vancouver, there's currently 37 postings, and they're constantly being imported here. I see them in Washington as well, although those may be Canadians just visiting.

[allenu]

At least in some parts of Seattle, you do see them a lot. In my neighborhood of Ballard, for instance, I can go for a walk and see three of them parked on the street.

[rootusrootus]

It probably varies quite a bit by which part of the PNW we're talking about. They're exceedingly rare in Oregon (and I'd bet they're visitors from Washington or BC), I haven't seen one in many years.

[blincoln]

They seem to be popular in rural areas of Western Washington. I saw several while visiting the San Juan Islands last year, and have spotted them fairly frequently on the Olympic Peninsula - along with other fellow RHD Japanese imports like the Mitsubishi Delica and Nissan Skyline.

[FpUser]

I enough of those in Toronto right in the area where I live

[Izikiel43]

I saw one yesterday in skagit valley

[ilyt]

They tend to be absolutely horrid when it comes to crash safety.