They’re Light, Fuel-efficient – and the Cutest Darn Trucks on the Road

JDM Hawaii imports used kei vehicles from Japan, then repairs and sells them at affordable prices.

One of JDM Hawaii’s 15 employees completes a 48−point inspection of an imported kei truck, or Japanese mini truck. JDM stands for Japanese Domestic Market and refers to the older, used vehicles the company imports from Japan.

Kei vehicles, which include passenger cars, trucks and vans, are more fuel-efficient than regular cars because they have three-cylinder engines with 45 to 50 horsepower, says Slater Robinson, owner of JDM Hawaii. They’re also smaller at 1,500 to 2,000 pounds and come in brands well known in the U.S. like Honda, Subaru and Suzuki, and lesser-known ones like Daihatsu.

“I thought it would be a perfect alternative” to more expensive and less fuel-efficient trucks like Toyota Tacomas and Ford F−150s, he says.

Federal law requires that all cars not built for the American market must be at least 25 years old before they can be imported.

Robinson says JDM Hawaii sources gently used cars; all are inspected, and repaired if needed, before being sold. Robinson estimates he’s imported 2,000 kei vehicles since starting JDM Hawaii in November 2020. About 70% stay on O‘ahu; the rest are shipped to the Neighbor Islands.