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A kei truck, kei-class truck, or Japanese mini truck, known in Japan as a (軽トラ ), is a style of pickup truck built to satisfy the Japanese (軽自動車 ) statutory class of light vehicles. Limited to certain size restrictions—currently no more than long and wide—they are produced by a wide range of Japanese automakers and are available in rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive.
Kei trucks were first introduced in Japan in 1959 and have since been widely used throughout Asia. Since at least the 2020s, they have become increasingly popular in North America, earning a cult following for the affordability and reliability.
Due to the limits established with regards to vehicle length, most, if not all, current trucks in this classification are built with the "cab over" approach to maximize load-carrying abilities; the Suzuki Mighty Boy is one of the rare historical exceptions. Despite the size and engine displacement, most kei trucks have a bed load capacity of nearly , and the bed dimensions are comparable to crew cab versions of far larger vehicles such as the Ford F-150. Kei pickups generally have pickup beds with fold-down sides; dump and scissor-lift beds are also available, as are van bodies. For export markets, kei trucks are usually fitted with bigger engines to allow them even more carrying capabilities. An Indonesian version of the originally 543-cc Suzuki Carry was built with a 1.6-L unit – nearly three times larger.
They are built with a strong, full, box-frame design with fully enclosed cabs, , , , heaters, lights and signals, and catalytic converters, and are claimed to have a fuel efficiency of .
Typical manufacturers and model names include: Daihatsu Hijet, Subaru Sambar, Suzuki Carry, Mazda Scrum, Mitsubishi Minicab. Honda has ended production and sales of kei trucks with the end of production of Honda Acty in 2021. The first kei truck to go on sale was the Kurogane Baby, manufactured from 1959 until 1962.
Many of these have been produced under license abroad, such as the Piaggio Porter. In South Korea, Daewoo and Asia Motors (Kia) produced rebadged Suzuki Carry/Suzuki Every, and Daihatsu Hijet vans as Daewoo Labo/Damas, and the Asia/Kia Towner.
Japanese progressive tax laws encourage declaring vehicles surplus after a relatively short life; consequently, used kei trucks are often exported in excellent condition with very low mileage.
In the Philippines, many kei trucks and vans have found a second life as a form of public transportation called "". These are used Japanese-market kei vehicles, refurbished to meet local requirements by various companies such as Norkis Motors.
Used models originally appeared in the US for off-road use, typically by farmers and hunters. Since 2010, many common uses in the US include campus maintenance vehicles, landscape and property maintenance, delivery vehicles, agricultural uses, golf courses, construction sites, small-business transportation and advertisement, and private recreational and homeowner use. Fire departments, ambulance companies, and even some police agencies have incorporated kei trucks into their fleets due to the extreme versatility, durability, and low cost compared to other utility type vehicles.
State legislation passed during 2008 in Oklahoma and Louisiana is the most liberal, prohibiting their use only on interstate highways. , kei trucks are illegal for all road usage in several states with Maine being the most prohibitive.
Kei vehicles older than 25 years may be imported into the US with very few restrictions.
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