Keijidosha is truly outstanding in the automotive industry. Literally translated as “light vehicles”, these small cars are important and exclusive to the Japanese car market. They arose after the Second World War. At that time, the country yearned make cars accessible to as many people as possible. For these cars, taxation was more favorable than vehicles of higher categories. But they were also limited in size, displacement and power. These limits have not changed since 1998, and they are as follows. Length (maximum) 3.40 meters, height 2 meters, width 1.48 meters, working volume 660 cm³ and power 64 horsepower.. These constraints often lead to original, cubic and vertical shapes to maximize interior space and light penetration.

Absolute success in Japan

Affordable, economical and economical, these models are very successful in Japan. In 2022, of the 4.2 million cars registered in the country, 38% (ie 1.6 million units) were kei-cars! “Japanese-Japanese” models are sold mainly in a very protectionist archipelago in terms of automobiles. In 2022, foreign manufacturers secured only 6% of the market share! Of the top 5 best-selling designs in Japan, four of them were keidosha. There Honda N-Box dominated the market, followed by the Nissan Note (the only “normal” model Toyota Roomy, Daihatsu Tanto AND Suzuki Spacia. So, kei-cars success story, the secret of which the Japanese know!

Three new electric vans

Container only: this category is slowly electrifying. Launches are activated, for example the last one Mitsubishi eK X EV and Nissan Sakura, recognized as the Car of the Year in Japan! Today, Toyota Group is moving forward. Through cross-shareholding with Suzuki and Daihatsu, the brand has developed a new small electric train. It actually takes over the body of the current Daihatsu Hijet Cargo. Now he is being helped Pixis Van at Toyota and by the Every at Suzuki. The participation between the three brands took place from the technical side. Thus, the electric motor was developed in collaboration, as well as the battery and charging system. The group is already talking about a autonomy of more than 200 kilometers. We’ll know more in the coming weeks, these first announcements were made on the occasion of the G7 summit in Hiroshima.