Toyota brings Japan’s tiny trucks that Trump loves to America

{"text":[[{"start":7.28,"text":"President Donald Trump wanted Japan’s quirky kei minicars to come to America. Toyota is now making his wish come true, bringing its tiny trucks to the US to ease inflation pressures for farmers, ranchers and other small businesses."}],[{"start":21,"text":"The world’s top automaker has announced plans to make the KEI-01, an ultra-compact pick-up truck, in Indiana that US small businesses can buy from the second half of next year."}],[{"start":32.08,"text":"Trump has long admired Japan’s boxy vehicles that are ubiquitous on its streets and are the workhorses of the average Japanese farmer and tradesperson."}],[{"start":41.097,"text":"The US president even instructed the transportation secretary to allow the production and sale of such cars in the US to give Americans access to more affordable vehicles — a major concern at a time of soaring gasoline prices."}],[{"start":53.2,"text":"“They’re very small, they’re really cute, and I said ‘How would that do in this country?’” said Trump after returning from Japan in late 2025."}],[{"start":62.88,"text":"Toyota did not comment on whether the minitruck was launched in response to Trump’s call."}],[{"start":67.16,"text":"The move comes as part of Toyota’s relaunch of its Scion brand. In its previous iteration that ended in 2016, Scion targeted millennial consumers who are less car-obsessed than earlier generations."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":78.88,"text":"Kei cars use small engines no larger than 660cc — the same size as some mid-range motorcycles. They must be no longer than 3.4 metres long and 1.48 metres wide to qualify for tax breaks that have made them very affordable for Japanese drivers."}],[{"start":95.6,"text":"Meeting the design and size requirements has proved too difficult for foreign automakers to compete in the segment, which makes up more than a third of Japanese car sales — although China’s BYD is trying to break in with its electric Racco minicar."}],[{"start":108.96,"text":"The minicars have been considered too flimsy and unsafe by regulators to be adopted in most other countries, putting a barrier on their global expansion."}],[{"start":116.76,"text":"The KEI-01 will comply with federal safety regulations for low speed vehicles, meaning its maximum speed will be capped at 25 miles per hour."}],[{"start":125.64,"text":"The rising prices of vehicles, which have been linked to automakers pushing global consumers towards larger SUVs and trucks, mean the more affordable Kei cars are becoming part of Japanese automakers’ globalisation plans."}],[{"start":138.767,"text":"US pick-up trucks such as the best-selling Ford F-150 cost about $68,000 on average, according to Kelley Blue Book. Smaller models, such as the Ford Maverick, Toyota Tacoma and Nissan Frontier, start at about $30,000."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":154.6,"text":"Nissan chief executive Ivan Espinosa previously told the FT there was strong potential to sell Kei cars in south-east Asia, Latin America and Europe."}],[{"start":164,"text":"He said the US market would be difficult given the amount of time drivers spent on highways alongside much larger vehicles."}],[{"start":171.12,"text":"Even so, Toyota admitted that the right-hand drive minitruck would be “an intentionally low-volume, niche vehicle” offered through a pilot programme focused on commercial customers."}],[{"start":181.24,"text":"Besides farmers and ranchers, Toyota cited municipalities, universities, outdoor enthusiasts and urban delivery companies as potential customers."}],[{"start":190.56,"text":"It declined to give a price for the minitruck or a sales volume target but said it “may consider expanding availability to limited retail sales at a later date” if sales were strong."}],[{"start":200.68,"text":"As well as the KEI-01, Toyota also unveiled two concepts — the SxS all-terrain vehicle and the BKE — that it said represent different expressions of Scion’s “vision for future mobility”."}],[{"start":217.86,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1794376832_6242.mp3"}