KEI cars came about through necessity, but have grown to dominate the Japanese marketplace.
Here we take a look at what they are and whether you can get one in the UK.
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What is a Kei car?
Originating from the Japanese word ‘keijidosha’, meaning ‘light automobile’ or ‘compact automobile’, kei (pronounced ‘kay’) cars have been highly successful in Japan for decades, and now account for over a third of the nation’s car market.
The idea of a tiny car came about just after World War II, when resources were massively depleted — especially the steel and petrol used up by tanks, planes, munitions and artillery.
Japan was devastated after the war, its economy in tatters, causing low incomes and widespread poverty, and people just couldn’t afford regular personal automobiles.
In the early 1950s, the kei car concept took off as a form of practical and affordable transport, both for private and commercial usage.
These models have government-regulated size and engine displacement limits, which have thankfully become less stringent over the years.
When first created in July 1949, manufacturers were restricted to producing kei cars with 150cc four-stroke engines or 100cc two-stroke engines.
If there was ever a time for kei cars to do well in the UK, it would be now
Torque GT
In 1950, this was revised to 300cc and 200cc respectively, and then the following year it was revised once again to 360cc and 240cc.
But it wasn’t until 1955, when both classes were allowed 360cc engines, that the market really took off.
The current rules state that kei cars must be 660cc or lower and less than 3.4m long, 1.48m wide and 2m high.
To give you an idea of how tiny this is, a Smart ForTwo is 2.7m long, 1.75m wide and 1.54m tall, while a Toyota Aygo measures 3.46 long, 1.62m wide and 1.46m in height.
Are Kei cars sold in the UK?
Kei cars are not an established class of vehicle yet in the UK and are not widely sold by manufactures, although there are many specialist companies importing them from Japan.
Nissan design boss Alfonso Albaisa believes that Europe should “follow the lead of Japan” with a special category of city car.
He said: “In Japan, we have learned to use every millimetre of the box, whereas some of the micro cars outside of Japan are just using aesthetics. This is a family car.
“It is very spacious. Forty per cent of the cars here are kei cars because they are damn good and electric makes them even better.”
And he is not alone, as one of the UK’s leading importers of Japanese motors, Torque GT, agrees, saying in March 2023: “If there was ever a time for kei cars to do well in the UK, it would be now.”
What companies are best known for making Kei cars?
Suzuki, Honda, Mitsubishi and Daihatsu are the primary manufactures of kei cars.
Some of the other major Japanese car companies sell Kei cars made for them by these four manufactures.
These include Toyota, Mazda, Nissan and Subaru.
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