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What do we want? Cheap trucks! When will we get them? Who knows. It seems like automotive companies keep building kei trucks for other markets. First Toyota made the IMV 0, now General Motors is selling the Zhengtu in China. 

The General Motors Zhengtu truck is $9,000 

Come on General Motors, sell the Zhengtu in America for $9,000, please! People just want cheap little trucks for work and to play with. 

Unfortunately, the Zhentu is only available in China with no plans to export it. Meanwhile, Americans are shelling out around $6,000 for older kei trucks that are finally allowed to be imported. 

The Zhengtu is a compact truck with a crew cab. It offers seating for five and has a 6.5-foot bed. The sides fold flat like the tailgate to crew an even larger flatbed. Plus, the sides fold down to 180 degrees to provide easier access to the bed. 

I have to imagine that the cabin is a bit tight. The truck is 201 inches long and the cargo bed is about 78.74 inches long. For comparison’s sake, the Chevrolet Colorado is about 224.9 inches long with a 74-inch truck bed. 

Like other kei trucks, don’t expect the Zhengtu to provide tons of muscle. It has a 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine with 99 hp. 

The General Motors Zhengtu on the road
General Motors Zhengtu | General Motors

Safety features include anti-lock brakes and electronic brake-force distribution. It also has an 8.0-inch touchscreen and physical HVAC controls. 

Reportedly, the Zhengtu has noise, vibration, and harshness levels that are on par with an average passenger car. 

This truck is built in China by a joint-venture brand, Wuling Motors. As a result, these trucks can’t come to America without facing the 25% chicken tax. The Zhengtu would be more expensive in the United States. 

But General Motors should build a kei truck for Americans. The Ford Maverick proves that people want affordable trucks. 

Plus, American drivers have shown a desire for the $10,000 Toyota IMV 0, which is only available in foreign markets.

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Staff Writer

Allison Barfield

Allison Barfield joined MotorBiscuit in 2020 and covers all things trucks, SUVs, and Jeeps. Having grown up on a farm in Rock Hill, South Carolina, she’s no stranger to the “Best in Class” truck and SUV debates; people in her hometown were always gathering to help work on vehicles together, and deliberation would naturally arise.

Allison graduated from the University of South Carolina with a degree in Media Arts. She has helped bring awareness to issues Women In Trucking face and has promoted Truckers Against Trafficking, an anti-trafficking NGO.

A fan of creatively dark literature, Allison appreciates the works of Shirley Jackson and Emily Dickenson. She lives in a mountainous area of the country and enjoys off-roading and camping. Her dog, Bruce, often joins her in testing trucks and SUVs for our site.