In April of 2024, I wrote about the Texas government opening up roads in the state to mini vehicles often referred to as kei trucks or kei cars. Then, in December of last year, President Donald Trump gained attention with his expression of support for these “tiny cars” like those common in Japan being made in and driven around America.
While the Texas government’s action and Trump’s declaration indicate progress toward kei truck freedom, being able to buy and legally drive a new kei truck across America still seems like a proposition that will be fulfilled neither soon nor for sure. In a Tuesday Independent Institute article “It’s Time to Legalize Kei Trucks,” Scott Beyer provided a good update on the legal situation of and potential benefits from kei trucks in America. “Ultimately, kei trucks serve as a reminder that government regulations make everyday life more expensive,” commented Beyer, placing kei truck related political developments in a larger context.
