Kei truck

They evolved from earlier three-wheeled trucks based on motorcycles with a small load-carrying area, called san-rin (三輪), which were popular in Japan before World War II.

Due to the limits established with regards to vehicle length, most, if not all, current trucks in this classification are built with the "cab over" approach to maximize load-carrying abilities; the Suzuki Mighty Boy is one of the rare historical exceptions.

They are built with a strong, full, box-frame design with fully enclosed cabs, seat belts, windshield wipers, AM radios, heaters, lights and signals, and catalytic converters, and are claimed to have a fuel efficiency of 40 mpg‑US (17 km/L; 5.9 L/100 km; 48 mpg‑imp).

Typical manufacturers and model names include: Daihatsu Hijet, Subaru Sambar, Suzuki Carry, Mazda / Autozam Scrum, Mitsubishi Minicab.

[2] Japanese progressive tax laws encourage declaring vehicles surplus after a relatively short life; consequently, used kei trucks are often exported in excellent condition with very low mileage.

Fire departments, ambulance companies, and even some police agencies have incorporated kei trucks into their fleets due to the extreme versatility, durability, and low cost compared to other utility type vehicles.