Donald Trump approves ‘tiny cars of the very near future’ to be built in US

“They can be propelled by gasoline, electric, or hybrid. These cars of the very near future are inexpensive, safe, fuel efficient and, quite simply, AMAZING,” he said.

Trump also said production of such cars should ‘start now’.

The announcement comes days after the Trump administration proposed to roll back the Biden-era vehicle mileage standards called Corporate Average Fuel Economy, which set minimum miles per gallon that automakers’ fleets have to meet.

Trump impressed by Kei cars in Japan

According to a Bloomberg report, Trump had earlier in the week expressed admiration for Kei cars, small vehicles that are common in Japan.

“They’re very small, they’re really cute, and I said, ‘How would that do in this country?’” Trump told reporters on Wednesday.

“But we’re not allowed to make them in this country and I think you’re gonna do very well with those cars, so we’re gonna approve those cars,” he said.

Tiny cars not for all American roads

Trump also revealed that he has athorised Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to approve production of such cars in the US.

In an interview with CBNC, Transportation Secretary Duffy said that he is partnering with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to pave the way for domestic manufacturing of smaller cars in the US, while adding that such vehicles are “probably not” going to be on American freeways.