this post was submitted on 25 Apr 2025
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[–] ArchaicHuman@lemmy.world 33 points 6 days ago (4 children)

It’s backed by Bezos. Wouldn’t even consider it for that reason alone.

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[–] jaykrown@lemm.ee 32 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (11 children)

The design is bad. The front trunk is a bad use of space, and the Japanese figured this out decades ago with the Kei truck. If you want to see real utility, look at this design.

[–] ExtraPartsLeft@lemmy.world 16 points 6 days ago (8 children)

The front trunk is a safety feature called a crumple zone and is objectively safer to be in a crash with.

[–] isaaclw@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago (4 children)

Hm. Interesting point.

Maybe as we move our economy away from cars, and people dont all have to be drivers, we could also move away from cars that are poorly designed specifically around bad drivers.

[–] jaykrown@lemm.ee 8 points 6 days ago

You need infrastructure to actually support an alternative, otherwise cars are a necessity for many people to get to work and the grocery store.

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[–] Semi_Hemi_Demigod@lemmy.world 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Counterpoint: One of the first things people buy for a truck is a container for the bed for things they don't want to be in the weather but also not in the cab.

A front-trunk eliminates this need which also frees up bed space.

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[–] BiteSizedZeitGeist@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago (3 children)

Americans won't buy a Kei truck though. Granted, the frunk is a marketing concession, but it's a fine one, if it can help push the market away from huge and expensive SUVs.

Or, more succinctly, don't let perfect be the enemy of good.

[–] SwingingTheLamp@midwest.social 11 points 6 days ago (3 children)

Americans can't buy them new because of the so-called Chicken Tax. We can only import them if they're speed-governed, or at least 25 years old.

Even with those restrictions, lots of Americans want them, including me. There are quite a few importers bringing them over, including one that just started up in my area. They're desirable enough that major media outlets are running articles about how people who need to get real work done covet kei trucks.

Yes, Americans would buy them. Americans are buying them.

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[–] jmf@lemm.ee 5 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Front trunks save lives in collisions though. I'd 100% rather be in a vehicle with a hood between me and another car, and I say this as an avid kei-truck fan.

[–] slaneesh_is_right@lemmy.org 1 points 4 days ago

Car has to look big or americans no buy.

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[–] etuomaala@sopuli.xyz 22 points 6 days ago (2 children)

I find this minimalism strangely appealing. Unfortunately, I do not live on a farm. I hope this thing is useful to those who do, though.

[–] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 12 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

I pretty much do and I'm kinda stoked, cautiously

If I can have a Linux truck that works and can tow something if need be... I'm down

[–] admin@sh.itjust.works 9 points 6 days ago (3 children)

Linux truck

And has to resemble the late 1970s-1980s body styles because of the kiss methodology. I'd love me a 1972 C10 or a 1981 F150 with Debian.

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[–] OmegaMan@lemmings.world 18 points 6 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (4 children)

Crazy how so many people have been begging for bare bones, affordable electric vehicles.

Then when one comes on the scene they do nothing but complain. Can't please anybody these days it seems.

Edit: sp

[–] Bahnd@lemmy.world 6 points 6 days ago (2 children)

They claim 20k, which is nice, but noone will believe it will stay that way. Given the [gestures broadly to everything] they likely will need to find an non-lithium based alternative battery before the reserves run dry, the price sky-rockets and then would-be buyers deal with scalper prices (not like thats much different than going to a dealership anyway).

This would have been a smash hit in 2022, but now its too little, too late.

[–] meliaesc@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) (1 children)

The 20k is after government incentives, definitely not permanent pricing. Lithium isn't scarce in the US, at least. The McDermitt Caldera reserves are quite substantial. More than half of the world's total supply.

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[–] mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca 3 points 5 days ago

It's a great concept, but it has blinding LED headlights and automatic high beams

instant fuck off

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[–] tfm@europe.pub 20 points 6 days ago (6 children)

I hate that Bezos backed them

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[–] uis@lemm.ee 14 points 6 days ago (3 children)

no touchscreen

Sounds like a dream. Or public transport. It doesn't have touchscreen either.

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[–] b161@lemmy.blahaj.zone 12 points 6 days ago

Lost me at “American”.

[–] BackgrndNoize@lemmy.world 8 points 6 days ago (5 children)

No stereo is fine if it has ports for me to just buy my own car stereo kit and add it afterwards. I don't see the point of no paint, like don't you need it to protect the metal from the environment

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[–] wowwoweowza@lemmy.world 7 points 6 days ago (2 children)

Is it a networked surveillance nightmare?

[–] Rhusta@midwest.social 7 points 6 days ago

It doesn't seem to come with any gadgets. No touch screen, not even a radio. It's possible that it still broadcasts location data and it's possible they could hide a mic to record audio as well. But it isn't connecting to your phone with Bluetooth, it can't exploit the Bluetooth connection to scrub your messages and socials. So it's a LOT better than most new cars.

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[–] peteyestee 4 points 5 days ago

Make it 10k-12k and it would be a yes if parts and repair ability were guaranteed for 10 years.

[–] NotSteve_@lemmy.ca 7 points 6 days ago (4 children)

Perfect except for it being a truck. Why is North America allergic to small cars?

[–] Lv_InSaNe_vL@lemmy.world 7 points 6 days ago (1 children)

Trucks are incredibly useful?

[–] NotSteve_@lemmy.ca 7 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

Sure but not every single person needs a truck? My comment isn’t even intending to hate on trucks, I literally just want a small car that’s electric. I don’t drive often and I want something that’s electric but doesn’t take up much space

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[–] DrownedRats@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago

Yes, more of this please!

No idea why it has no stereo though. That feels like a pretty basic feature. Doesnt even need to be built in. Just iso standard head unit bay would do.

[–] elucubra@sopuli.xyz 5 points 6 days ago

This is like the electric version of the bare-bones Toyota ICE pickup

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