Kei car , K-car , or kei jid? sha ( ???? , lit. "light car") (pronounced Video Kei car
Description
Kei cars have yellow plates, giving them the name "yellow plate car" (black numbers in yellow background for personal use and yellow numbers on black backgrounds for commercial use) in English circles. Since regulation only limits physical size and engine displacement (and direct power), manufacturers have been able to introduce many advanced technologies into the classroom. As a result, automobiles are often available with forced induction machines, automatic transmissions and CV, front, rear and four wheel drive, air conditioning, GPS, and many other features.
Daihatsu, Honda, Mitsubishi, and Suzuki all produce cars, while Nissan sells a patented model of Mitsubishi and Suzuki, Mazda offers Suzuki models engineered with badges, and Toyota and Subaru offer modeled Daihatsu-badges. The German Brand Smart offers its Fortwo version of the so-called Smart K in Japan at the Yanase dealerships from 2001 to 2004 with a specially developed rear fender, reducing the tire dimension and track width, to fit the kei car standards, although in the end the model sells the fewest instances of the kei car when it is marketed.
Maps Kei car
History
360-cc era (1949-1975)
These standards came from the period after the end of the Second World War, when most Japanese people could not afford a full-size car, but it was enough to buy a motorcycle. To promote the growth of the automobile industry, as well as to offer alternative shipping methods for small business owners and stores, standard cars are created. Initially limited to only 150Ã, cc (100Ã, cc for two-stroke) in 1949, the dimensions and limitations of machine size gradually increased (in 1950, 1951, and 1955) to tempt more producers to produce kei cars. With the 1955 change to 360Ã, cc as the upper limit for the two-stroke, as well as the four-stroke, the class really started to take off, with the car from Suzuki (Suzulight) and then Subaru 360, the first mass-produced car kei, community needs for basic transport without being overly compromised. In 1955, the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Japan also set a goal to develop a "national car" larger than the cars manufactured at that time. This goal affects Japanese car manufacturers to determine how best to focus their product development efforts on smaller cars, or larger "national cars." Small exterior dimensions and engine displacements reflect the driving environment in Japan, with speed limits in Japan realistically not exceeding 40 km/h (24.9 mph) in urban areas.
The class went through an increasing period of sophistication, with automatic transmissions appearing on the Honda N360 in August 1968, with front disc brakes becoming available in a number of sports cars, starting with Honda Z GS from January 1970. The power output also continued increased, peaking in 40 PS (29 kW; 39 hp) Daihatsu Fellow Max SS in July 1970. Sales increased steadily, reaching a peak of 750,000 in 1970. Throughout the 1970s, the government continued to reduce the benefits offered to kei vehicles, combined with tighter emission standards to drastically lower sales until the first half of the decade. Honda and Mazda withdrew from passenger contracts to the auto market, respectively in 1974 and 1976, although both maintained limited offerings for commercial vehicles.
Until 31 December 1974, the car's kei used a license plate smaller than an ordinary car (230 × 125 mm). In 1975, kei cars received medium standard plates (330 ÃÆ'â € "165Ã, mm). To distinguish it from a regular-sized car (not kei ), the plate is now yellow and black rather than white and green.
550-cc era (1976-1990)
Sales continued to decline, reaching a low water mark of 150,000 passenger cars in 1975, 80% lower than 1970 sales. Many began to doubt the sustainability of the car, with Honda and Mazda resigning in the mid 70's -an.
Tighter emission standards to be introduced in 1975 as part of a staggered air-cleaning program have proven problematic for car manufacturers. It's very difficult for Daihatsu and Suzuki, which focuses on two-stroke engines. Tiny Suzuki is worse, with the entire production of the company consisting of two-stroke kei cars. Daihatsu, has strong technical support and connections from their great owners, Toyota, to help them meet new requirements. All car manufacturers are shouting to relax the dimensional conditions, claiming that emissions standards can not be met with a functional 360-cc engine (though the Subaru Rex SE-T equipped it proves the possibility). In the end, the Japanese legislature relented, increasing the total length and width limit by 200 mm and 100 mm, respectively. Engine size upgraded to 550 cc, valid from January 1, 1976. New standards announced on August 26, 1975, leaving little time for manufacturers to update their offerings.
Most manufacturers are somewhat surprised by the decision; after expecting a 500 cc limit, they have developed a new engine to fit that restriction. These new machines are quickly introduced, usually installed in a body that extends from the existing model. This interim version (with displacements ranging between 443 and 490 cc) is a "touch", developed to see if there is a sustainable market for automobiles . As sales increase, they only last for a model year or more until manufacturers have time to develop a "full-sized" machine. Only Daihatsu has managed to avoid developing a transitional machine version that does not take full advantage of the new rules. Kei , car sales remained stagnant; while the combined sales of passenger and commercial passenger cars reached 700,000 for the first time since 1974, small cars are still losing market share in the rapidly growing market.
When vehicles get better and more capable, other benefits arise, as exports increase rapidly. In particular, truck export sales increased, while passenger car exports increased at a lower rate. In 1976, car exports were 74,633 (up 171% year-on-year), although car exports decreased. In 1980, another record year occurred when exports rose 80.3% (to 94,301 units), of which 77.6% were microtrucks. Nearly 17% of exports go to Europe, dwarfed by Chile that takes up almost a quarter of the exported keis. In a difficult economy, economy cars sold well and in 1981 marked another banner year as Japanese dwarf sales hit record highs since 1970 (at 1,229,809 units for cars and commercials). As the 1980s progressed, the automobiles became increasingly subtle, losing their utilitarian origins as Japanese customers for the better. All kinds of technical upgrades, ranging from four-wheel drive to turbocharger to air conditioner start to appear in it.
660-cc era (1990-present)
In March 1990, new standards were reintroduced. An extra 110 cc is now allowed in a slightly larger bodyshell (100 mm longer). This change came at a time when the Japanese economy was booming, so all the manufacturers quickly developed new models accordingly. The only 550 cc model that continues to be available for a while is Mitsubishi Minica Dangan, which only increased five months later. In response to increased power, a limit of 64 PS (47 kW, 63 hp) was also added. Since 64 PS is by chance the highest output that has been achieved at the time, the reason for this number to be selected is unknown.
The horsepower regulations have been suggested for turbocharger and supercharger fitments for this little machine during the late 1980s to address the lack of horsepower and torque. However, the installation of turbochargers and superchargers also has the benefit of improving fuel efficiency, thus reducing exhaust emissions, which are also taxable, while mounting turbos and superchargers make vehicles extremely fast and agile in size. Engine technology is also shared with motor sport, designed for motorists enjoyment, and less so on fuel economy.
Electric kei car (2009-present)
Mitsubishi Motors introduced electric cars in 2009 to fleet buyers and in 2010 to the general public. The car in Japan is called i-MiEV, an acronym for the innovative Mitsubishi Electric Vehicle. I-MiEV uses a 63-hp permanent magnet motor. The overnight charge cost model is within 14 hours of a 110 volt electric home, or within 30 minutes of a fitted-in fast loading station at the fleet location. The range is 100 km (62 miles) using the US EPA testing routine and 160 km (99 miles) using the Japanese Ministry of Transport's routine testing routine designed for Japanese conditions.
Regulatory history
Today
Starting in 2011, Toyota Motor Corp. launched its first mini car, Pixis Space, the captured Daihatsu Move. It is expected to increase competition in the small car sector. Currently, Nissan Motors is partnering with Mitsubishi Motors, which produces minicars for Nissan called Nissan Otti, while Honda car sales account for about a quarter of its total sales.
Taxation
- Vehicle excise tax
- The taxable amount is 3% of the purchase price, compared to 5% for the larger car.
- car weight tax
- The amounts are ¥ 13,200 and Ã, Â ¥ 8,800 for the three and two year period, respectively, compared to Ã, Â ¥ 18,900 and Ã, Â ¥ 12,600 which are charged for larger passenger cars. Such savings are over 30% in both cases. This heavy tax is paid after the vehicle passes its safety inspection.
- Car liability insurance (compulsory insurance) premium
- The 24-month insurance contract is usually worth Ã, Â ¥ 18,980 at enrollment, versus Ã, Â ¥ 22,470 for a larger car.
- Annual road tax
- The tax is based on the transfer of the machine.
Due to the popularity of "light cars", taxes placed on the size of these vehicles are called Light Motor Vehicle Taxes. The amount charged for the size of "passenger car" (the largest of the three recognized classifications in Japan) is Ã, Â ¥ 29,500, with passenger cars and trucks with a carrying capacity of 1,000 kg or more at ¥ 13,200. Car taxes for "light cars" under 1,000 cc are ¥ 7,200, or ¥ 4,000 for commercial vehicles (some local governments may charge more under local regulations).
Gallery
Classic
After World War II, the car was born as a public car. Engineers from Nakajima Aircraft Company first developed the first truly successful car, the Subaru 360.
Era 360-cc
Era 550-cc
Olahraga
The sports car was born by a "bubble burst" in the last years of the 1980s, although some sportier iterations such as Fronte Coupà ©  ©, Honda Z and Minica Skipper have appeared in the early '70s. Japanese manufacturers have introduced the latest sports car in this segment, called Honda S660 and Daihatsu Copen recently.
Attend
Engine capacity has been expanded to 660 cc (in 1990) to assist in high speed performance and weight increase of new safety equipment. The increasingly stringent security regulations also require a slightly larger body, since 1998. Most of the vehicles sold today are built like the so-called "high man" or "high wagon" look, using four-door, one-piece hatchbacks, and headroom expanded.
Commercial vehicles
Many kei trucks ( keitora ) and microvans are used in Japan. The price of many of them is  ¥ 1,000,000 or less.
References
Note
Further reading
- 360cc: Nippon ???? Memorial 1950-> 1975 [ Nippon Kei Car Memorial 1950-1975 ] (In Japanese). Tokyo: Yaesu Publishing. 2007. ISBN: 978-4-86144-083-0. Ã,
- Rees, Chris (1995). Microcar Mania . Minster Lovell & amp; New Yatt, Oxfordshire, UK: Bookmarque Publishing. ISBN: 1-870519-18-3.
External links
- Regulatory history
- (in Japanese) ???????????
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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