What is the Keijidousha?
K-Car comes from the Japanese pinyin Keijidousha, referred to as K-Car.
The Japanese government has regulations on the size and power specifications of K-Car. The length, width and height limits of K-Car are respectively 3,400 mm (3.40 m), 1,480 mm (1.48 m) and 2,000 mm (2.00 m). The engine The displacement is less than 660cc, the maximum horsepower is not more than 64 horses, the cargo capacity is 350kg or less, and the number of passengers is 4 or less. The personal license plate is yellow with black characters, and the commercial license plate is black with yellow characters. The biggest advantage of K-Car is its small size and convenient parking.
Picture/K-Car dimensions and power specifications of each era.
Why are K-Cars so common in Japan?
This is because after World War II, Japan was in desperate need of various means of transportation. However, there was a considerable lack of oil at that time, so Japanese car manufacturers mass-produced fuel-efficient small cars. This is also the origin of K-Car.
The key points of K-Car are that it is cheap, fuel-efficient, and convenient for parking. It does not require a parking space to get a license plate (Japanese regulations require that if you want to buy a car, you must have a parking space.), coupled with the advantage of low tax, K-Car is still popular in Japan. Popular among the public, K-Cars can be seen everywhere on Japanese streets.
What are the features and advantages of K-Car?
Let’s sort out the advantages of K-Car again: the price is cheap, with a car costing at most 2.5 million yen, you can have a small car that can protect you from the wind and rain. It has a low cc number of displacement, is fuel-efficient, has a large space utilization rate, and is bulky. Although the safety level of a small car cannot be compared with that of a large car, it is fully equipped with common safety equipment such as ABS, SRS, ESP, etc. For young people, mobility or car buyers, they don’t care much about power performance. Spend a little money and travel on four wheels.
Why is K-Car not popular in Hong Kong?
First of all, the most important thing is the cost consideration. A K-Car sells for HKD 80,000-150,000 in Japan, which sounds very cheap, but it is a different story when it comes to Hong Kong.
To put it simply, the price of a car in Hong Kong plus the first registration tax is 180,000 to 250,000 (parallel imports are included.). The price is almost the same as that of an ordinary RV. Simply put, it seems to be a low cost performance.
also, Hong Kong consumers generally have the impression that "a big car should be stylish first, comfortable first, not smaller than a large car, and safe first." If the price is about the same, would you choose a K-Car or a RV? (Editor: K-Car!!)
In addition, the parking space, license fee, and insurance are the same as those for a 1,500cc RV. For ordinary consumers, since they have to buy a car, they will of course want to buy a larger car. (Car owners who think this way will buy a 7-passenger car.)
Unless the price of the imported K-Car is cheap, for example, the price is below 180,000, and there are discounts on license fees and taxes, there is no incentive at all.
In fact, more than 20 years ago, there was a K-Car craze in Hong Kong. Move, Wagon R, Gino, etc., N-group throats can be seen on the streets.
But good times don't last forever. Many cars have been modified. They replaced the big turbo and didn't strengthen the engine components. It's hard for the car to escape the obsolescence of the times as it gets older.
The invasion of electric vehicles in recent years has also affected the global supply chain.
Fortunately, these phenomena have changed somewhat after Suzuki introduced the Hustler model, making it the only "choice" for licensed K-Cars in the Hong Kong market. (Parallel imports are not included.)
Summary: Is Hong Kong suitable for K-Car?
Finally, to sum up, is Hong Kong suitable for K-Car cars?
Hong Kong is actually very suitable for K-Cars. The cars are not fast, the roads are not wide, and the parking spaces are small and few. All these factors combined are basically designed for K-Cars. However, the preferential policies favor fake environmentally friendly electric vehicles, paving the way for major Chinese car manufacturers. However, their overpower, large vehicle size, heavy weight, and incompatibility with Hong Kong's environment will only increase the burden on Hong Kong's roads.
*Electric vehicle Benefits: First registration tax is exempted (or part of it), the license fee is very low (only one-third or less). It seems that the policy has no intention of improving the current road conditions and it is unfair. Electric vehicles generally weigh three times more. One share, which increases road wear and tear, and the license fee is actually cheaper.
