00:00It was born from a Japanese minicar project.
00:30It is a light truck equipped with a very small engine.
00:32America is known for its love of big things, so why have the famously small light truck become so popular in Japan?
00:44Before we get into the secrets of their popularity, let's first explain how light trucks are used in the United States.
00:51Light trucks are primarily used for transportation and work in limited areas such as farms, forests, construction sites, golf courses, and resort facilities.
01:05In other words, it can be said that light trucks are attracting attention because they can handle narrow roads.
01:13Also, there is a unique import form of light trucks, where light trucks are modified and imported as off-road vehicles.
01:20This is because the structure of a light truck is relatively simple and suitable for modification.
01:26Now, let me explain the secret behind the popularity of light trucks.
01:32First of all, light trucks are maneuverable, easy to handle, and fuel-efficient.
01:40It has gained a reputation for being particularly easy to use among agricultural workers.
01:46In addition, it is quite powerful considering its small engine and body.
01:52A light truck can carry up to 350 kg of cargo.
01:58In America, the only vehicles small enough to carry this weight on country roads and farms are small tractors.
02:09Light trucks are used as a substitute.
02:13Many people also use light trucks as if they were golf carts to move around the vast farmlands of America.
02:22And, for a used car, it rarely breaks down and is easy to maintain.
02:29Many of the light trucks exported from Japan have less than 100,000 kilometers on them, and even those with 1 million kilometers on them are still considered relatively young and highly valued in the United States, where there are many vehicles still in use.
02:43And what light truck owners are most grateful for is the low insurance premiums.
02:50In the United States, where car insurance is expensive, this can often save you thousands of dollars a year.
03:02But of course, light trucks have their drawbacks too.
03:06It is not permitted to run in most states.
03:12Even if you can drive, you can't drive on the highway or cross state lines.
03:20And the maximum speed limit is set very low at around 40 km/h.
03:28In addition, to reduce import and insurance costs, you must use the 25-year rule, which is the US car import rule.
03:37This 25-year rule is valid for cars that are 25 years old or older from the month of manufacture.
03:46Imported cars that fall under this 25-year rule are no longer subject to regulations such as automobile safety standards set by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
03:58In other words, right-hand drive vehicles, crash tests, high gas tests, etc. are exempted and can be imported.
04:06However, to receive this benefit, not just any light truck can be imported; the vehicle must be at least 25 years old.
04:16Despite these drawbacks, light trucks are not equipped with the high-tech features of today's vehicles, but have a very simple structure, making them easy to handle and maintain in daily use, and so they are now being used by fire departments and police agencies.
04:37In other words, it is fuel-efficient, low-cost, and has low insurance premiums, so it is increasingly being adopted by wealthy people.
04:46As an aside, light trucks are also widely used at US military bases in Japan.
04:53Some Americans may have remembered the convenience and performance of the light trucks they experienced at that time and ended up importing them from Japan.
05:04With rising insurance premiums and unstable crude oil prices, light trucks, which offer many advantages, are likely to continue to be popular import vehicles.
05:16Well, that's it for today, let's meet again
05:34Thank you for watching
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