Kei car

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Kei car (K-car), also called keijidōsha (in Japanese: 軽自動車 light motor vehicle), is a Japanese category of small automobiles, including passenger cars, vans and pickup trucks. They are designed to exploit local tax and insurance relaxations, and are exempted from the requirement to certify that adequate parking is available for the vehicle. These standards originated in the times following the end of the Second World War, when most Japanese could not afford a full-sized car yet had enough to buy a motorcycle. To promote the growth of the car industry, as well as to offer an alternative delivery method to small business and shop owners, Kei car standards were created.

The cars feature yellow licence plates, earning them the name "yellow-plate cars" in English-speaking circles (black numbers on yellow background for private use and yellow numbers on black background for commercial use).

Because the regulations only restrict physical size and engine power, manufacturers have introduced many advanced technologies to the class. As a result, kei cars are often available with forced induction engines, automatic and CVT transmissions, front-, rear- and four-wheel drive, hybrid drivetrains, air conditioning, GPS and many other features.

Contents 1 History of regulations 1.1 July 8, 1949 1.2 July 26, 1950 1.3 August 16, 1951 1.4 April 4, 1955 1.5 January 1, 1976 1.6 March, 1990 1.7 October 1, 1998 2 Kei car manufacturers 3 See also 4 External links

[edit] History of regulations

[edit] July 8, 1949

• Maximum length — 2.8 m
• Maximum width — 1 m
• Maximum height — 2 m
• Maximum engine displacement — 150 cc (four-stroke), 100 cc; (two-stroke)

[edit] July 26, 1950

• Maximum length — 3 m
• Maximum width — 1.3 m
• Maximum displacement — 300 cc; (four-stroke), 200 cc; (two-stroke)

[edit] August 16, 1951

• Maximum displacement — 360 cc; (four-stroke), 240 cc; (two-stroke)

[edit] April 4, 1955

• No further differentiation between two- and four-stroke: all up to 360 cc

[edit] January 1, 1976

• Maximum length — 3.2 m
• Maximum width — 1.4 m
• Maximum displacement — 550 cc

[edit] March, 1990

• Maximum length — 3.3 m
• Maximum width — 1.4 m
• Maximum displacement — 660 cc

[edit] October 1, 1998

• Maximum length — 3.39 m
• Maximum width — 1.48 m
• Maximum height — 2 m
• Maximum displacement — 660 cc
• Maximum power — 64 hp (47kW)

[edit] Kei car manufacturers

• Daihatsu
• Honda
• Mazda
• Mitsubishi
• Nissan
• Smart (the only non-Japanese company)
• Subaru
• Suzuki

[edit] See also

• List of kei car models
• Microcar

[edit] External links

• Official association 全国軽自動車協会連合会 (Japanese)
• History of regulations