Japan’s best-selling passenger car is a box-shaped lightweight
More than one in three passenger cars used or sold domestically belongs to the Japanese vehicle class of light motor vehicles. The Road Transport Vehicle Law defines these mini vehicles, also known as kei cars, as vehicles with an engine displacement of 660cc or smaller and a measurement not exceeding 3.4m in length, 2m in height, and 1.48m in width.In Japan, private car owners use their vehicles primarily for short to medium trips, for instance, nearby shopping or commuting to work and school. For these purposes, many people seem to readily accept limited engine power, interior space, and crashworthiness. The advantages over regular passenger cars are lower prices and maintenance costs, economical parking, and easier handling on Japan’s many narrow roads.