The Road Transport Vehicle Law defines light motor vehicles (LMVs) built since October 2008 as three- or four-wheeled automobiles with an engine displacement of 660cc or smaller not exceeding 3.4m in length, 2m in height, and 1.48m in width. Older vehicles follow slightly different regulations concerning displacement and size.
Values have been rounded.
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Number of light automobiles in use in Japan 2025, by type
As of March 2025, Japan counted around million light passenger cars (kei cars), representing the most common type of light motor vehicle owned. Mini cars totaled roughly  million units in use.
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Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization. (April 11, 2025). Number of light motor vehicles in use in Japan as of March 2025, by type (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Retrieved July 24, 2026, from /statistics/1284645/japan-mini-vehicles-in-use-numbers-by-type/
Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization. "Number of light motor vehicles in use in Japan as of March 2025, by type (in 1,000s)." Chart. April 11, 2025. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. Accessed July 24, 2026. /statistics/1284645/japan-mini-vehicles-in-use-numbers-by-type/
Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization. (2025). Number of light motor vehicles in use in Japan as of March 2025, by type (in 1,000s). ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ. ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc.. Accessed: July 24, 2026. /statistics/1284645/japan-mini-vehicles-in-use-numbers-by-type/
Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization. "Number of Light Motor Vehicles in Use in Japan as of March 2025, by Type (in 1,000s)." ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ Inc., 11 Apr 2025, /statistics/1284645/japan-mini-vehicles-in-use-numbers-by-type/
Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization, Number of light motor vehicles in use in Japan as of March 2025, by type (in 1,000s) ÌÇÐÄÆƽâ°æ, /statistics/1284645/japan-mini-vehicles-in-use-numbers-by-type/ (last visited July 24, 2026)
Number of light motor vehicles in use in Japan as of March 2025, by type (in 1,000s) [Graph], Light Motor Vehicle Inspection Organization, April 11, 2025. [Online]. Available: /statistics/1284645/japan-mini-vehicles-in-use-numbers-by-type/
