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JCD BLOG

Fuel-Injected Kei Trucks You Can Import to the US in 2025

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to import a fuel-injected kei truck from Japan, 2025 might just be your year. Thanks to the 25-year import rule in the U.S., fans of JDM cars have a fresh batch of exciting options, and a fresh batch of late ‘90s and early 2000s kei trucks are […]

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Breaking News – US tariffs on JDM imports

US Tariffs on JDM vehicles 25 years old. The verdict is in….EXEMPT!
A major development has arrived for automotive enthusiasts, importers, and collectors: vehicles manufactured at least 25 years prior to their importation into the United States are now officially exempt from the sweeping new 25% tariffs imposed on most imported passenger vehicles and light […]

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Wild and Wonderful Keis

Look What the Cat Dragged In!
So my wife came home the other day in this.  A rather unique and interesting little Japanese Kei car that turned out to be a delight to drive; and rather pleasing to look at, too. 

Cute, eh?
The little thing came to us as a courtesy car when my wife’s darling little […]

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What’s All This About 25-Year-Old Cars From Japan?

One of my used Japanese cars is 29 years old. The other one is 23 years old. My wife’s secondhand Japanese car is 19 years old. They are all going strong.

Of course, most people I meet don’t care about how old my cars are, and that’s no surprise, is it? I mean, do you go […]

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Tariffs?! CPTPP for your import from Japan to Canada

What is CPTPP?

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a multilateral free trade agreement between 11 countries aimed at enhancing economic integration across the Asia-Pacific region. It promotes trade liberalization by reducing tariffs, fostering investment, and improving regulatory coherence among member nations.  The CPTPP evolved from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) after the […]

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Are They Coming to Take Away Our Kei Trucks?!?

They Will Have to Get Through the Texans (and an Army of Kei Truck Fans First)
So what’s going on with this thing about government moves to ban Japanese Mini trucks from the roads in certain US states?
When we at Japan Car Direct first got involved in exporting used Japanese minitrucks to our major used car […]

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Blue Honda Acty, Honda Acty Kei Truck, JDM Mini Truck, Compact Utility Truck, Vintage Honda Acty, Import Acty from Japan, Japanese Kei Truck Auction, Honda Acty 4x4, Buy Acty from Japan, Japan Car Direct

The Generational Differences Between Kei Trucks

Each generation represents the response of carmakers to new Japanese government regulations increasing maximum allowable vehicle size and engine displacement. Most mini trucks closely match these specifications.

Performance, size, weight and refinement generally increased over the years. But maximum load capacity remained the same at 350 kilograms (771.6 pounds). Some people prefer earlier models because they […]

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Daihatsu Mira side view

So Nice and Simple, But What is this Car?!

I’m sitting here in my used commercial Daihatsu Kei car and I want to tell you about him.  I’m looking down at the instrument cluster and this is what I’m seeing:

Pretty simple, huh? Just a big, easy to read speedo, a fuel gauge, an engine coolant temp gauge and, well, that’s it. Simple. Everything about […]

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