APRIL 1st NEWS! JAPAN'S TINY MICRO 'KEI' CARS ARE NOW LEGAL & CERTIFIED FOR SALE IN THE US & CANADA!

APRIL 1st BREAKING NEWS THAT YOU WON'T BELIEVE! Micro "Kei" cars from Japan are finally legal and certified for sale in North America for the first time in history, a result of 41 years of lobbying by the Japanese automotive industry association (JAMA). Now, both Americans and Canadians can buy brand new, 2023 or newer model year Kei cars as soon as the Japanese automakers decide which ones to import here.

Equipped with tiny 660cc (0.66L) engines, the Kei cars did not meet federal safety and emission standards for the past 41 years but finally, both the US and the Canadian government simultaneously approved new regulations that allow these micro cars to pass the federal requirements. The official announcement will be released within the 24 hours - but David Chao was able to obtain the breaking news early and he's letting all the viewers know before anyone else. Are you excited about this breaking news? We can't wait to buy brand new Suzuki Jimny or Daihatsu Copen.

Automotive Press is owned and managed by David Koichi Chao, a global expert in the field of automotive evaluation, engineering, and strategy. With over 35 years of engineering experience, David is able to review vehicles from unique perspectives utilizing technical and specialized methods. Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association David is a board member and a director at AJAC (Automobile Journalist Association of Canada).

David is known around the world as an authentic specialist of Lean/Agile Thinking, and travels all around the world to review vehicles and teach latest engineering methods. Born and raised in Japan, David has an engineering degree from University of British Columbia and post-graduate education from MIT and Harvard Business School in Boston.

[AutomotivePress]

Hi everyone - sorry to make this announcement, but yes, this is April 1st video so it's actually not true. Like everyone else, I wished it was happening though! Thank you for letting me have a bit of fun again, you guys are good sport!

[Toby_Flenderson_]

This could annihilate the traditional US auto market. I’m all for it. We need this pressure to get prices and size back down.

[markkiyabu]

I hope Toyota, Honda & Suzuki will import micro Vans to the u.s.

[tmwei]

I would love to be able to get a Jimny here in the US.

[charliebrown]

This is amazing news not just for all the cool kei cars out there now available but hopefully brings more affordable options for people.

[YYC]

Thanks for the video David, enjoyed it as much as your other videos. I want to be optimistic but I'm seriously thinking this is an April Fool's joke. 😅

[gedcarbon]

I hope this is true! Suzuki Jimny please!!

[mrod]

Curious that this should come out on April 1st. 😁

[vx]

I had a Jimny for many years. Super reliable, great around the city and could be parked anywhere. 😊

[nismobeach]

Awesome news. My daily driver is a Scion IQ and I absolutely love it. My coworker really wants a Jimny so hopefully he'll be able to buy one soon.

[krodkrod]

I lived in Japan for 3 years while in the Marines and i loved the Kei cars. I had a Daihatsu van that was super tiny. I really miss it.

[wallochdm]

i just returned from 13 days in Japan, and was very impressed by the wide variety of Kei cars I saw, especially the small 4x4s and vans.These make so much sense, especially in an urban environment. The vans were especially impressive, and omnipresent, especially in outer areas like Takayama, where I spent a few days. The two-tone and pastel colored vans would be a huge hit here, and I fell in love with the Honda N-Series in particular. Hopefully, the Japanese car companies see the huge potential market for these and start producing LHD models for export. The variety is truly astounding.

[tomposti]

🤣Too bad it's April's fool day. Otherwise I'd be dancing in the street!
Thank you for the Kei Car sympathy gathering piece!
Let the manufacturers know about our dreams here in Canada.

[brianaustin]

I wish this was true. So many good Kei cars available in Japan.

[jamfoxs]

Wish it was true.. I recently drove a Honda N box with awd in Japan and was pretty comfortable on the highway. Did suprisingly well in the snow too. Really makes you think what we are missing out here in NA

[billymcc]

It almost seems to good to be true. Are you sure this is not an April fools joke?😊

[bijanshahidi]

Thanks and I do will buy as well.the Jimini 4 door 4x4 as soon as available.

[Robiruu]

Does this mean we dont have to wait the full 25 years for the honda s660?... or is it for the year it was passed on and onward only? 👀👀

[michaeldesilvio]

I'd like to see a comeback of the old cycle cars. They'd be perfect for local transportation.

[geralde]

I hope this isn't an April Fools joke because i would love to have a Kei car.