Just the Facts....

[MT-Importer]

I got the letter yesterday from EPA, and these are the cold hard facts as I see them,

1) I think there are about 4 testing labs for cars that the EPA will accept, you must send one truck of each family, ie 1997-2003 Carry, each family will have the same engine and emissions control (cat converter) system, the testing for each family will be $80,000 to $100,000 for each family
there is no guarantee that the family will meet 2008 emissions standards, however if they do meet then;

2) then once the family is accepted then you will have to test each truck in Japan to see if thei exact truck will meet the standard, if it does then a sticker is affixed stating this and then;

3) who ever imports it is on the hook for many years ( It use to be 12 years but I will have to check this and see if it has been changed) to warrantee the emissions control system. If it breaks than the importer must replace it at his cost. Very costly if the vehicle is 2000 miles from your shop.

4) I had 3 containers of trucks ready to be shipped from Japan, I decided not to ship them since the EPA would not give me any written assurance that if they made it into Customs by Dec.8th that they would be grand fathered, I will wait and see if I was right since I know of several shipments from Japan that will arrive after the Dec 8th cut off.

A $32,500 a day fine is a little much for me.

A guess is that there are about 25 truck families, any of you or the KTA going to put up the $2 to $3 million for testing??????

[boosted mitsu]

that interpretation may be a little distorted but the EPA did not really give a very clear guide line as to what should be done, how it should be done, and so on.
i have emailed them several questions and have not had any answered back. i have given them a call only to be told to email them with any questions.

i was assured, verbally, that anything before december 8 will be ok and will not need a certification.

not sure on the testing cost as i was given an estimate that was all over the place and they themselves didnt know if that was good enough.

i do know that once certified you have to offer a warranty for the emissions controls. though the Imports Hotline didnt even know the minimum that we are required to offer.
they also had to call another department to figure out how the certification process are to be carried out.......dont you love our government.....

my interpretation is that all the dealers who have inventory in the U.S. are holding all the cards, for now at least. The cost of the mini trucks will eventually go up since they will need to be certified after 12/08.
It may be a better time to buy and bring in now than later if you can do it before the 8th.
thats what i've done at least.

[Texas Mini Trucks]

So, is there any chance of an extension while we work on getting the certification process streamlined? It seems really crazy to drop a bomb on us 3 to 4 weeks before the DEADLINE. There has to be a way to negotiate some type of agreement......BIG INSURANCE, BIG OIL and others do it.

[boosted mitsu]

yes, they are giving out a one year extension from december 8 2008 till december 8 of 09.
this new regulation that they have made was probably not the most well thought out.
so in other words this is their way of streamlining.
They have yet to answer my questions.
i dont know if they are able to or even willing to negotiate anything.
sucks doesnt it.

[MT-Importer]

These rules take effect on Dec. 8 2008 and if you can show that you purchased your trucks before the regs were written, and they have cat converters THEY MAY LET YOU BRING THEM IN, YOU HAVE TO ASK FIRST, it is a case by case basis, I would not trust them, 2009 is just the final cut off.

[boosted mitsu]

still too soon to say anything. They made it sound easy at first still seems like it but just more of a hassle than it was before.
new regs state that the trucks need to be in the U.S. before december 8 to be grandfathered in. not purchased before. you better buy them now if you can get them in before the 8th.
anything before the 8th will be gold! though i dont think that the cost of each truck will be too much more even after being certified. I dont think that getting each family certified will cost 80-100k.
i think we should just see what they say before we make any more assumptions.

[xroadsimport]

The news that came out is defiantly not good news. The rules and regulations are much more difficult, time consuming, and costly than we were previously led to believe. I was defiantly disappointed when I read the document and referenced documents. It will not be cheap to obtain a “Certificate of Compliance”, nor will it be a short process. We are working on it but I am not sure of the outcome by any means.

In my opinion anyone trying to clear customs after the 8th of December is crazy. I don’t think the EPA is messing around here. I was not sure but I am sure now that our decision to bring in 35 containers of trucks to clear customs before the 8th is the right one. Past that we will have to wait and see what the future brings and what can be accomplished under the new rules and regulations, unless they can be changed or modified at some point.

[boosted mitsu]

you got that right!
its hard to say what is going to happen to all of this when the EPA is pretty clueless about their own regulations.

[KIMMER]

If the certificate is obtained for these, what's this mean for the consumer? Street legal? Or just permission to continue using them as farm equipment?

[TRAX and HORNS]

My 2 cents, permission to use them as off road only.
I wouldnt hold my breath if they ever were to get road legal by the EPA/DOT. Someone correct me, but I heard from good source that each engine test would cost at least 25000.00. How many different engines are comming in, Mit,Maz,Dai,Suz,Hon, Sub. Thats six and not counting the different engine in each family. If you stayed at 1990 and above I believe Suz. has 2 engines. Lets just say 10 engines x 25000.00 you do the math. Better get em while you can and a spare one. The parts guys I have spoke with said they are and are going to continue with parts supply as long as the market calls for it. Saying all this I still believe we can pull the rabbit out of the hat. Its not going to be easy. "Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained" and "Keep your nose low and fanny High" is what my old pappy told us boys.