Skip to main content

Daihatsu Hijet S200P — US Import Eligibility

Kei Truck · Produced January 1999 – December 2004

Eligible to import now

Earliest examples are eligible to import to the USA now (from January 2024).

Newest importable build (today): approximately June 2001

Editor's note: PARTIALLY ELIGIBLE. January 1999 builds eligible from January 2024. Full production run eligible progressively through December 2029.

Calculated automatically from the 25-year rule (month of manufacture + 25 years), recalculated on every site rebuild.

Information for guidance only — verify with official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-14. Data verification status: Verified

Specifications

Make / Model Daihatsu Hijet
Chassis code S200P
Body type Kei Truck
Production years January 1999 – December 2004
Payload 350kg
Engine EF-SE / EF-VE 0.66L petrol, 47–48 hp, SOHC/DOHC, timing belt, EFI
Drivetrains 2WD
Transmissions 5MT, 4AT
Notable grades Standard work grade — open differential, 2WD, Comfort grades with AC and power steering

Overview

The Daihatsu Hijet S200P is the 2WD version of the ninth-generation Hijet truck, built from 1999 to 2004 and powered by the EF-SE or EF-VE engine. The closest rival to the Suzuki Carry in the US kei truck market — similar capability, different cab design. The defining ownership consideration is the timing belt: interference engine, scheduled replacement interval, must be changed immediately on any used example with unknown history. Owner-reported issues skew electrical (sensors, relays) rather than engine-related. The entire run is progressively US-eligible since 2024.

Engine

Engine

Daihatsu EF-SE / EF-VE

Good (with correct belt maintenance) reliability
Displacement
0.66 L (658 cc)
Configuration
Inline-3, SOHC (EF-SE) / DOHC (EF-VE), 12-valve
Power / Torque
48 PS / 47 hp @ 5,900 rpm (EF-SE) — EF-VE slightly higher output · 63 Nm / 46 lb-ft @ 4,000 rpm (EF-SE)
Timing
Timing BELT — OEM belt part number 13514-87215. This is an interference engine: belt failure risks piston-to-valve contact. Always replace belt + water pump as a kit. The 9-piece kit (belt, water pump, gasket, thermostat, and seals) is the recommended approach on any used Hijet with unknown history.
Full engine profile →

Drivetrain

Across its trims, the Daihatsu Hijet S200P is offered with the drivetrain systems below. Availability is trim-dependent — tap any one for a plain-language explainer of how it works and when to use it.

Note: S200P is the 2WD variant. 4WD is S210P. The Climber diff-lock agricultural trim is 4WD only (S210P).

Transmission

The Daihatsu Hijet S200P is available with the transmission types below. Tap any one for a full guide including maintenance schedule and common issues.

Manual or automatic?

The manual gives you maximum power from the 660cc engine and is the only way to access diff-lock and low-range trims. The automatic trades some power for convenience. See manual vs automatic for which one you should choose.

Importing to the USA

The card below pulls the Daihatsu Hijet S200P's production dates and the USA's import rules into a single at-a-glance verdict — the same data that powers the eligibility banner above and the USA country guide.

Import legality

DaihatsuHijetS200P → United States

Eligibility
Eligible now

Earliest examples are eligible to import to the USA now (from January 2024).

Right-hand drive (RHD)
AllowedNo federal ban on right-hand-drive vehicles. Most states allow RHD registration with no extra requirements. Confirm with your state DMV as a small number have local rules.
Taxes
Most kei trucks are classified as cargo trucks and attract the 25% "chicken tax" import duty on declared value; the 2.5% passenger-vehicle rate applies only if the vehicle is legitimately classified as such — a customs broker's determination, not a buyer's choice. There is no federal VAT or federal sales tax at the border. State sales/use tax and title & registration fees are charged at registration and vary by state. The 25-year rule exempts safety and emissions compliance but does NOT waive the import duty. Budget ocean freight, port-to-door transport, and the customs broker fee separately.
Registration authority
NHTSA and EPA handle federal import compliance. Individual state DMV handles title and registration.
Full United States import guide →

Information for guidance only — verify with official sources. Last reviewed 2026-06-08.

Related Resources

Ready to import your kei truck?

Tell us what you're looking for and we'll connect you with export specialists who can make it happen.

Request a Free Quote →