Have no idea. trump is still a POS.

Mostly.

The Mercedes developed Smart Car was/is actually pretty safe, in that they invested in the development of a very strong ‘cage’.

These, probably not so much. Considering how many jurisdictions are allowing 4 wheelers on roads, seems NTHSA is out the window.

How they would fare against a tractor trailer rig on the interstate.

I'm reminded of a friend who was getting off I-65, and was stopped at the end of the ramp in the turn lane. A semi completely creamed her full sized car, saying he didn't see her.

They were not to be imported because they, as vehicles, could not be permitted on US roads. If not Trump, then at some point there has to be some Trump appointee signing off on them, using his authority.

Revise the regs and let the importing and manufacture begin.

https://legalclarity.org/why-are-kei-cars-illegal-in-the-us/

"Kei trucks" (軽トラック are almost exclusively the realm of farmers and home handymen. They are just a small subset of "kei jidousha" (軽自動車 , which are cars, trucks and vans that have an engine displacement of less than 670cc. Nearly all Suzuki and Daihatsu cars in Japan are "kei cars" but not "kei trucks". "Kei jidousha" are distinguished by their yellow license plates.

Very limited edition, less than 1500 in all of Japan. Price is around 2.1 million yen, about $13,500, minus taxes

The Japanese version of the MG Midget?

https://global.honda/jp/news/2015/4150330-s660.html

To drive a car the size of a golf car on the interstate. How are the semi's going to be able to see you?

Ordered it from a broker and had it shipped by freighter. Picked it up at the port and drove it home. Japanese title was problematic, but eventually got tags for it. Can only be driven in town. Tops at 55mph. It has a 580cc turbo engine. Parts must come from Japan or Australia at high prices. Anyway, it is a novelty for her. She has a bigger car for every day use.

Or a mini Cooper. I used to drive a 71 fiat 850 sport the car was tiny.

Top speed was about 70. Hills were fine going down. We are old my friend. Fix It Again Today. FIAT.

It took a while and felt a lot faster. I actually replaced the engine with a 72 the cam was shot in the 71. Got the replacement engine from one on our on base junkyard for 20 bucks minus the cylinder head which I used from the 71.

You could pick the engine up alone I pulled it more than once.

It was the most unreliable car I ever had but so much fun to drive.

Can-am, Polaris, Yamaha, and John Deere would like a moment to talk about their side-by-sides.

or today's Mini Cooper. The Kei spec also limits engine size, power and top speed.

They're small, efficient and popular overseas, but they are not street-legal in many U.S. states. The other main barrier is that they are low-margin, high-tariff products in a market that craves big high-margin SUVs.

is that these cars, with obvious horrendous safety features, are only available to illegals. Estimated to save ICE a ton of money. Deaths from car accidents will increase. Believe me, he's saying all this shit this for a reason, as he is not to be trusted. And like it was noted earlier, can you image little cars cruising on the interstates with semi's, big SUV's? Yeah, he really thought this one through. Just like the tariffs.

Just found this: https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a69632858/trumps-kei-car-plan-regulatory-changes/

from the OP's article, repeating the link for convenience of reference:

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-japanese-tiny-cars-kei-b2879150.html

How many Smart brand, or Fiat Abarth cars do you see on the roads?

The smallest acceptable truck would be like a 2000 Tacoma pick up.
4 cyl 5 speed Not big.

Look at a Tacoma these days.

This car venture is DOA!

He drove it around on the gravel roads here all the time. It was adorable.

He also used it to hand out dozens of free pot plants door to door when they became legal in Minnesota 🤣

He thinks they’ll get excited by Japanese tiny cars??

What do the big 3 say about the competition? And what about the auto workers union?
After I typed that I would imagine Krasnov is getting money from the Japan auto maker. And then the big 3 will have to give him more money to reverse it.


#TrumpFiles fna #EpsteinFiles

mocking Joe Biden’s auto emission initiatives, saying Biden wants us to all drive little clown cars when Ah Wants Mah Big Pickup Truck.

Now, they have come around to them.

I can easily imagine the turbulence of the aerodynamic wake from a passing semi would flip one of these things on its side.

It's an enclosed golf cart. A death trap. The occupants would never survive a collision of any type (side, front, or rear.) Imagine crickets in a beer can being hit by a sledge hammer.

Perhaps he's thinking of dismantling the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). No standards, no safety regs... just let the public decide what's "safe enough" and the risks they are willing to take with their own lives... along with other people's lives, too.

They are 8'2, so how are they street legal and get past our strict safety standards?

... a longer wheel base, I believe. However, I decided to go ahead and check with Google... and here's what I found.

Imagine millions of these on the roads, puttin along at 15-45 mph. I personally don't think these vehicles should even be allowed on the sidewalks, no less a regular road. Add if they were, omg......

No way will this gain any traction here.

This is just Playtime to keep him occupied until his nap and make it look like he’s doing something.

They are dangerous, slow and and belch emissions.

And they are ugly.

If tiny cars aren't allowed due to size and speed (not being able to go fast enough for highway speeds), how do Smart Cars get away with it? I see them quite often here in NY. They are only about 8'2 long and can go 81 mph.

Americans, on average, are generally bigger than Japanese.

Americans buy bigger cars and SUVs and trucks, even when it's only for a single person.

Plus he's encouraging more oil & gas drilling so theoretically if he gets his way fuel prices won't be high enough to necessitate lifestyle changes like getting smaller fuel efficient cars.

You tiny mushroom-dick mush-brain. Trump is really out of it.

...we bought a Smart Car ForTwo back in 2006 or 2008 and she loved it driving and parking around Houston. Not so much getting on the freeway. It's not until you are staring up at an 18-wheeler on the highway that you really feel small. She's had her "fun" and now prefers a larger, comfortable car. Tiny cars are a novelty. Sure, you get to park in tiny spaces that others cannot park in, but sometimes you get a ticket because where you parked isn't even a legal space.

And I know I spoke in generalities. There are exceptions to every rule, except that one.

I see more and more of them. Right hand steering imports.

You can get a used one for less than you can buy a new side by side......JD Mule, Kawasaki Mule or the like. Might be handy around the farm. Some are 4wd.

delivery vehicles.