Here in Germany cars are getting bigger and bigger, almost 50 % of newly registered cars are SUVs that weigh more than 2 tons. They clog up cities like Berlin and take more and more space. They're also completely useless as no one actually needs a 4x4 or extra-elevated car, it's pure marketing and ego stroking.
Japanese cities and places like Okinawa use public space so much more efficiently, you see tiny cars and Microvans everywhere. For urban settings they're really the perfect choice of vehicle IMHO, so it's quite sad you can't buy them here.
I think the main reason those exist in Japan is the special tax category for small vehicles: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_size_class#Japan In Germany such legislation would probably be opposed by the local automotive industry, who would be behind overseas competitors in this space.
Microvan is great but the K-car restriction is too hard. (car manufacturers make effort to build great cars even the restriction)
It restricts car width max to 1480mm, it's very hard and not very sense even in Japan. I wish it was expanded to around 1600mm and engine to 1000cc. It should also make it easier to export K-car to overseas.
Comments
Japanese-style microvans: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microvan
Here in Germany cars are getting bigger and bigger, almost 50 % of newly registered cars are SUVs that weigh more than 2 tons. They clog up cities like Berlin and take more and more space. They're also completely useless as no one actually needs a 4x4 or extra-elevated car, it's pure marketing and ego stroking.
Japanese cities and places like Okinawa use public space so much more efficiently, you see tiny cars and Microvans everywhere. For urban settings they're really the perfect choice of vehicle IMHO, so it's quite sad you can't buy them here.
I think the main reason those exist in Japan is the special tax category for small vehicles: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_size_class#Japan In Germany such legislation would probably be opposed by the local automotive industry, who would be behind overseas competitors in this space.
Microvan is great but the K-car restriction is too hard. (car manufacturers make effort to build great cars even the restriction)
It restricts car width max to 1480mm, it's very hard and not very sense even in Japan. I wish it was expanded to around 1600mm and engine to 1000cc. It should also make it easier to export K-car to overseas.