America is known as the land of big cars and even bigger SUVs but Donald Trump has an idea that could change that.
The president wants to bring to the US tiny vehicles, like those commonly seen on the streets of Japan, in the form of mini hatchbacks and vans half the size of a Ford F-150 pickup truck.
So-called Kei cars - short for kei-jidōsha, literally 'light vehicle' - became popular in Japan after World War Two as an economical means of transport in its crowded cities. They have also become popular across Asia.
Despite Trump's enthusiasm for micro-cars, importers and drivers in the US aren't so sure they are a viable option in the vast country.
Among the obstacles are whether manufacturers can keep prices low, make the vehicles safe enough and if big-car-loving Americans can be convinced to downsize.
After a visit to Japan, Trump said in an online post in December: 'I have just approved TINY CARS to be built in America.'
'These cars of the very near future are inexpensive, safe, fuel efficient and, quite simply, AMAZING!!! START BUILDING THEM NOW!'
His suggestion marks a shift that would undo a long-running rule barring small American-made vehicles.
While there are already some Kei cars in the US, they are a rare sight and have to be at least 25 years old to run legally on American roads.
Business accounts manager Nevi Bergeron bought her turbo-charged yellow 1997 Suzuki Cappuccino three years ago after being inspired by the Japanese street racing manga series Initial D.
Like most Kei cars, it is so small that two can fit into a standard parking space.
'I fell in love with that car and instantly knew I had to get one,' said Bergeron, a member of a local enthusiasts group from Maryland and Washington DC called the Capital Kei Car Club.
'It's tiny and a bit silly... definitely a conversation-starter. You get a lot of glances when you drive around the city,' she said. 'I just feel so happy in it.'
But despite loving the petite coupe, she wouldn't recommend it as a daily runaround.
'It is fun to drive but it is not exactly what I'd call safe,' Bergeron said. 'On a highway next to big trucks, you definitely feel vulnerable.'
For the same reason, Capital Kei Car Club founder Andrew Maxon drives his Autozam az-1 mini-coupe 'like a motorbike' - always assuming that other vehicles, especially trucks, have not seen him.
US transport secretary Sean Duffy said as much, acknowledging that small cars would 'probably not' be well-suited to American freeways.
Key to Trump's enthusiasm for small cars is the promise of lower prices.
A spokesperson for the US transport department told that the move will help Americans afford vehicles that meet their needs. But it is yet to be seen if American manufacturers can build small cars at prices lower than existing sedans.
Car prices in the US have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels after a global shortage of computer chips was one of the factors that drove up prices.
Imported Kei vehicles cost anywhere from $6,500 for a van or above $10,000 for a Kei truck.
Even so, industry experts are cautious, predicting difficulties for Kei cars in breaking into a market dominated by larger vehicles.
