-Walk through the
doors of Soho Moto
and you will see why bigger is not always better.
-There is a lot of different
factors that make people like them.
They're relatively cheap.
They're gas efficient.
They're cute.
Kai Chovanack is, of course, speaking about Kei trucks,
tiny pickups from Japan imported
into the United States.
SODO Moto has been bringing them in since 2018,
and they're hot as ever. -Yeah, they're pretty fun.
They're really entertaining to drive.
As long as you're going under about 40 miles an hour. (laughs)
-With a 600 CC engine,
they're closer to a motorcycle than a half ton pickup.
But the difference is
you can buy one
for just a couple thousand dollars
and with a bed
as long as some extended cab trucks,
they meet the needs of a lot of people.
-Those factors make them really great for cities,
the island communities around here, like Bainbridge
Island and other places, and also small businesses.
So since they have
a lot of storage space, we see people that run
small food trucks and things using these and also companies
like bakeries using them to transport goods.
-That's inspired quite a community.
People who love these little trucks,
working on them, modifying them, collecting them. (engine revs)
The import and registration process can be daunting.
So while some people do it themselves, Kai recommends
letting an expert handle the details.
-Yeah, they've been popular the last two years.
There is definitely an increase
in the popularity and that increase,
I think is still going right now.
I think that increase has been driven by the availability,
so a lot more of them are 25 years old
and also a lot more people are getting into
the import business in the first place.
-That's the age where they become
a classic car exempt from many U.S.
regulations, making them street legal.
Admittedly,
they lack some safety features of modern vehicles
like airbags and larger crumple zones,
and the ride is not for the faint of heart.
30 miles an hour on a city street
feels much faster
with the engine right beneath you roaring.
(engine roars) -Yeah, don't drive too fast.
-But they are small and fuel efficient enough for some.
Especially with gas prices in recent years.
-You're offsetting the emissions created
by making the vehicle and driving,
it doesn't create very much more.
So it's like a double win.
-They come in all shapes and sizes.
-This is a 95 Mitsubishi, Pajero, Mini VR-II,
and I have a 92 Suzuki Carry, and it's the super fun, fun
little car.
-Dawson Woo was looking for something a little adventurous
and found it on Facebook Marketplace in Portland.
His other truck is down for repairs.
A not infrequent issue but part of the fun.
He admits
he had trouble explaining the appeal
to his wife as his collection has grown.
No airbags, no power steering like your knees
are the crumple zone.
She doesn't love being in it, but like
seeing people's reactions when you're driving around like
theres-
I think it's starting to click
like it's a super fun vehicle.
-Because they may be small but are not short on character.
I mean, my whole neighborhood knows like,
that's the guy that has those two tiny cars.
-These are slow and this one is extra slow. (laughs)
-While Kai is glad to keep bringing them in.
His dad
travels in Japan, sorting through used car auctions
and getting them ready for shipping.
Up to six can fit in a standard
cargo container, which is quite a sight.
Each one to some degree part
of the cultural fabric of this city
thousands of miles from home.
-Like when you're driving these around, you get attention.
Like you're driving a Ferrari.
Sometimes, depending where you are,
they're kind of just a staple of the Seattle
and greater Seattle area at this point.
And that's not that surprising.
Seattle in this area
has had a lot
of Japanese influence for a long time,
and this is just another example of that.
And they're everywhere.
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