Japanese mini trucks, documented properly
An open reference on Japanese mini trucks: model histories, chassis and engine codes, auction sheet grading, regulation history and the import rules that apply in each country.
No sales pitch on this site. If you want one sourced, that is handled by Japan Mini Trucks.
What a kei truck is
A kei truck is a light commercial vehicle built to Japan's kei class regulations. The class is defined by hard limits on engine displacement and exterior dimensions, and every manufacturer builds right up to them — which is why kei trucks from different makers are so close in size and capability.
- Engine displacement
- 660cc maximum
- Length
- 3.40 m (11 ft 2 in) maximum
- Width
- 1.48 m (4 ft 10 in) maximum
- Height
- 2.00 m (6 ft 7 in) maximum
- Rated payload (truck)
- 350 kg (about 770 lb)
- Power (voluntary industry cap)
- 64 PS, roughly 63 hp
The practical result is a four-wheel pickup around 11 feet long and under 5 feet wide, with an enclosed two-seat cab, a flat cargo bed and frequently selectable four-wheel drive. In Japan they are ordinary working vehicles used in agriculture, construction and local delivery.
Kei vehicles get lower road tax, cheaper insurance and, in much of Japan, exemption from proof-of-parking requirements. Those concessions only apply inside the limits, so almost every kei engine displaces 656–659cc — as close to the ceiling as the manufacturer can get.
The five main models
Most kei trucks that leave Japan are one of these five. They share the class limits but differ in engine layout, body options and parts availability abroad.
Mitsubishi Minicab
Mitsubishi · since 1966
Mitsubishi's own design until 2014, a rebadged Carry after.
Reference sections
Chassis codes
What DA63T, S210P and HA4 actually tell you about a truck.
Auction sheets
Condition grades, interior grades and the damage-map letter codes.
Specifications
Engines, dimensions and payload compared across the five main models.
Import rules
What applies in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Glossary
Kei, keitora, shaken, RoRo, FOB and the rest of the vocabulary.
FAQ
Direct answers to the questions that come up most often.
Common questions
What does the T at the end of a kei truck chassis code mean?
On most Japanese kei chassis codes the trailing letter indicates body type. T denotes a truck — for example DA63T, U62T and DK51T are all truck bodies — while V or P often denotes a van or panel body. The letters and digits before it identify the generation and frequently the drivetrain.
How do I tell whether a kei truck is 4WD from its chassis code?
It depends on the manufacturer's scheme. Daihatsu pairs a 2WD code with a 4WD code ten higher (S200P is 2WD, S210P is 4WD). Honda alternates odd and even (HA3 is 2WD, HA4 is 4WD). Mitsubishi and Suzuki use separate code families. The chassis code is more reliable than a listing description, but the vehicle's own documentation is definitive.
What engine is in a 660cc kei truck?
Almost always a three-cylinder petrol engine of 656–659cc: Suzuki F6A, K6A or R06A, Daihatsu EF or KF, Honda E07A or E07Z, Mitsubishi 3G83. The exception is the Subaru Sambar, which uses the four-cylinder EN07.
What does grade 4 mean on a Japanese auction sheet?
Grade 4 indicates a vehicle in good overall condition for its age, with normal wear and minor cosmetic marks but no major damage or structural repair. It is the grade most export buyers target. Grades are an auction inspector's judgement rather than a warranty, and standards vary slightly between auction houses.
What do the letters on an auction sheet diagram mean?
They mark fault type on a map of the body. A is a scratch, U a dent, W a wave or previous repair, S rust, C corrosion, X a panel needing replacement and XX a panel already replaced. A trailing number from 1 to 3 indicates severity.