In Japan, kei or lightweight class vehicles have been used for a long time. The kei truck or, more popularly, the mini truck is a very useful workhorse that can be used almost anywhere. It was designed small to maximize maneuverability in the city streets of this Asian country.

These multipurpose trucks have long been a favorite export to the US of A. Because the rules of importation for such vehicles are not very strict compared to brand new imports, they become so popular. The obvious explanation is because they are commonly used off the roads in farms & ranches. These can be fitted with any kind of bed to perform any purpose. They can become tourist trams when fitted with passenger cabs. They can haul boxes and crates when fitted with rail beds or, if the cargo is bulkier, flat beds. They can carry your family when fitted for vans. The truck's maneuverability and size make them a suitable candidate as a hunting truck, easily snaking between trees, or as an ambulance in tight traffic.

Before, these trucks had engines specified as 550 cc with forty hp but nowadays the Japanese have increased the standards to 660 cc with forty-five hp. In Japan, ownership of a vehicle is not affordable. Not the cost of the vehicle is expensive but the fees & taxes that are accorded to them. The older a vehicle gets, the higher the taxes & fees go. Due to the strictness of fees & safety inspections, the Japanese maintain their vehicles well. And because of the fast depreciation, these vehicles are sold at reasonable prices.

The most common models of these trucks are the Minicab from Mitsubishi, the Hijet from Daihatsu, the Acuity from Honda, the Sambar from Subaru, and the Carry from Suzuki. The latest models come out every few years but the specifications are more or less similar.

Specs may vary from model to model and from year to year but the difference is minimal. This for the reason that they really follow guidelines set by the Japanese government. The dimensions are usually five feet & eight inches in height, ten feet & ten inches long, and four feet & six inches wide. The truck bed usually measures four feet & one inch by six feet & six inches. The wheelbase is six feet & three inches apart. The whole truck tips the scales at 1400 lbs. It has manual transmission with 4-5 gears.