TOKYO – US President Donald Trump said on Dec 5 that he has approved the manufacture of “tiny” cars in the United States, as his administration faces increasing pressure over affordability.

Two days after describing

ultra-compact cars that he saw in Japan

about a month earlier as “really cute”, Mr Trump said on social media he had just greenlit the production.

“Manufacturers have long wanted to do this, just like they are so successfully built in other countries,” he wrote. “These cars of the very near future are inexpensive, safe, fuel efficient and quite simply amazing!”

While the details remain unclear, including which very small cars would be subject to his approval, Mr Trump said the vehicles could be petrol, electric or hybrid powered.

At a White House event on Dec 3, Mr Trump suddenly said he wants to see Japan-style tiny cars built and driven in the United States.

“Honda (and) some of the Japanese companies do a beautiful job, but we are not allowed to make them in this country,” he said at the time.

“I think you are going to do very well with those cars. So, we are going to approve those cars.”

In Japan, so-called mini vehicles, with engines no larger than 660 cubic cm, account for almost 40 per cent of new vehicle sales.

On Dec 4, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told a CNBC interview that the administration was in the process of “clearing the deck” for regulatory changes following Mr Trump’s directive.

“If there is a market for those vehicles, I want to give our manufacturers the opportunity to build those cars,” Mr Duffy said, adding they are probably not to be driven on US freeways. KYODO NEWS