• doom_and_gloom@lemmy.ml
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        6 months ago

        There is a small market for kei cars, for private use and export. But the economies of scale required for making these top-sellers don’t exist without regulatory and tax reform in foreign markets.

        • redcalcium@lemmy.institute
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          6 months ago

          Maybe in the US, but in Asia, a huge portion of sales for Honda, Toyota and Suzuki are for their modified kei cars. Even so, they still don’t seem interested in releasing their electric models there. This gap is currently filled by Chinese EV manufacturers.

    • grue@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      You say that as if Americans don’t want kei cars, but we do. Even rural off-roading Youtubers (who would probably be revealed to be ultraconservative if they didn’t keep their politics out of their videos) love things like Suzuki Samurais and Subaru Sambars.

      • doom_and_gloom@lemmy.ml
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        6 months ago

        They can usually be imported for private use, but kei cars aren’t street legal for most consumer purposes in the US. Which means they would be selling to a very small market. The very few that end up getting sold in Europe are usually modified versions designed for export is another limiting factor.

        • grue@lemmy.world
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          6 months ago

          but kei cars aren’t street legal for most consumer purposes in the US

          Speak for your own state.