American Farmers Are Saving Money By Importing Small Japanese Trucks

A growing number of rural Americans, such as farmers and small business owners, are purchasing Japanese domestic market (JDM) small pickup trucks, also known as "Kei" trucks, because they suit their basic needs at a fraction of the price over larger trucks. For those who don't know, Kei cars and trucks are ultra-compact vehicles that have been popular in Japan for years. Kei vehicles are typically right-hand-drive and are at least 25 years old due to US import laws (also known as the "Chicken Tax") but it boils down to a simple factor: necessity.

The Economist spoke to a few individuals who opted for a JDM Kei truck over something far more expensive. Not only do these Americans love these older Japanese vehicles but the trend seems to be picking up steam. One farmer from outside of Raleigh, North Carolina purchased a 1997 Honda Acty, spending only $2,000 importing it. Before deciding to buy it, he even researched a John Deere side-by-side off-road utility vehicle that costs $30,000.

It was nice and all but simply wasn't worth the price. The Acty, according to its satisfied new owner, can easily fit into tight spaces on his property, including the barn, because it's less than five-feet wide. Plus, it's road legal. "They're amazingly useful," he said. Kei trucks fill a growing niche that American automakers, including Toyota which builds the full-size, all-new Tundra in San Antonio, Texas, have ignored for decades. Importers have taken note and business is booming. One import business owner from New York said that he has sold over 300 Kei trucks to local businesses over the past few years.

"We bought five of them to start, and we sold them all within seven days," he said. "A lot of commercial businesses see the use of these over an $85,000 F-250."

But there's another vital reason why Kei trucks have so much appeal: they're extraordinarily simple and cheap to maintain. Unlike newer trucks, they lack nearly every type of technical gizmo like infotainment systems. Owners can often fix them by themselves and parts still remain available. In some cases, these repairs can be improvised by skilled mechanics who don't need to import replacement components.