Car regulations are different from country to country. This is because each country has its own unique set of standards that car laws may sometimes fluctuate or even differ when compared. Because of these diverse sets of rules and prohibitions, carmakers have no choice but to build similar cars but may come with different features. This way, they would be able to sell cars while still meet the standards that their country markets require.
The car laws here in America are stringent. In fact, vehicle regulations in the US are one of the strictest in the world. Requirements such as emission standards and safety regulations, among others, are causing some problems for car manufacturers. As a result, carmakers have no choice but to create entirely different models to sell some cars in the States. However, this isn't a fool-proof solution since there are times that some car models, no matter how many features were changes, will still be banned. That's why you'll see some car models that are in different countries while they won't be available here.
To give you some examples, below is a list of 10 cars banned in the US. Please note that some of these vehicles may already be available in the US.
More than three years ago, the United States lifted the ban for importing Jaguar's Land Rover Defender after over 25 years of not allowing this off-road vehicle on American roads. The said model, which has many avid fans, stopped selling in the US because it didn't meet the safety standards. Even then, the government only allowed 500 imports per year. Regardless of the ban, many Americans were still able to ship over the years privately.
As mentioned, NHTSA lifted the ban. But back in 1993, Americans would have to settle for any of Land Rover's off-road offerings - just not that one. The 20TDi, the model, released back in 1993, featured some minor upgrades compared to its predecessors. It came with inter-cooling and direct injection and an alloy cylinder head, which drastically provided better turbocharging. The last feature was the one that turbocharged its way to the blocklist.
If there's a list of the most sought-after cars in the USA back in 2008, then the Fiat 500 Abarth is an easy pick. Unfortunately, the government banned the 2008 model in the country. That's why you'll never find one on the road. But what's with the ban? The Fiat 500 Abarth is a cute little car, and it visually looks harmless. But what it lacks in size, it compensates with its power. Don't be fooled: the 2008 Fiat 500 Abarth is strong enough to take on snowy paths and climb steep roads. And, for these reasons, the US banned the Abarth.
The good thing is that Americans can still get and drive a Fiat 500 Abarth in 2010 and beyond. However, the latter models are not as strong as the 2008 one.
Evo is one of the most popular Mitsubishi series of vehicles. The Japanese carmaker named one Evo trim after Tommi Makinen, the famed Finnish rally driver, for its sixth generation. This limited edition model came with two trims: the RS and GSR. Both come with a list of modifications and upgrades that are, more or less, unique from each other. Too bad that NHTSA disapproved of the build. Thus, they didn't hesitate to place this vehicle on the list of banned cars in the US.
The Volkswagen XL1 first came to the public's eye during the Qatar Motor Show back in 2011. Back then, both local and international guests at the convention had nothing but appreciation for Volkswagen's 1-liter car. Yes, it's one of the first hybrid vehicles coming from the German company - third to be exact. It got a lot of steam from guests and press for its capability to run up to 260 miles per gallon. All that while it runs with a two-cylinder turbo-diesel engine that carries about 47hp.
Although the company introduced XL1 in 2011, Volkswagen didn't release one out for sale until its production in 2013. However, there were only 250 units made. Apart from that, most of the units were pre-ordered. While the pre-order period was ongoing, the NHTSA decided to ban the vehicle for sales.
The Honda Beat is one of the cars that is NOT banned in the USA, to be technical. So why did we include this vehicle? Because it simply isn't available, and we Americans are missing out a whole lot. The Honda Beat is one compact car with a very distinct trim and is known for its drivability and comfort. Because of these attributes, the Honda Beat is well-received by the Japanese. Americans can only hope as the car is only exclusive to the Japanese market.
The good news is, as mentioned, the NHTSA does not ban it. However, it may take some serious money and more serious connections for one to ship.
Many car enthusiasts did have a lot to say about the Lotus 340R when it was first unveiled at the Birmingham Motor Show back in 1998. For many, it was a car with so much potential to become one of the world's most famous back then. But people had to take their words back as it was banned in the US due to NHTSA. And we wouldn't blame the NHTSA too much as it came with some significant flaws.
For one, the Lotus 340R doesn't come with a roof or doors. This aspect alone didn't sit well with the government, and so a ban was expected. Not only that, the 340R only has two bucket seats. And when two bucket seats come with no roof protection, it is a high-priced danger. But we guess it's not entirely Lotus's fault. After all, Lotus makes cars for racing. But racing isn't part of most Americans. Not then, not now.
If you've been to Asia, you've probably seen some familiar car brands but different models, which leaves you confused. And one of these models is the Toyota Hilux. It's such a shame that the NHTSA doesn't allow HiLux in the USA, as we think many Americans would love this highly unique pick-up. It has everything one needs from a truck and more; a diesel-powered vehicle comes with either 2L or 4L. It has a horsepower that ranges between 140 and 235. Apart from those, the Hilux is known to be reliable and rugged, that it can manage to do any challenging task.
So why did the NHTSA banned this car in the US? The reason is ridiculous, but here goes; the NHTSA considers Toyota Hilux as a light truck. And light trucks fall under the taxation category called the Chicken Tax. The Chicken Tax is a kind of tariff that the American government imposes on certain products, like potato starch and brandy. And the tax falls under the Chicken is a whopping 25%. Because of this, Toyota decided to steer clear of the Hilux from the American market.
2004 Volkswagen Beetle' Ultima Edicion'
Aside from the Toyota Hilux, the 2004 Volkswagen Beetle' Ultima Edicion' is yet another entry on this list of banned cars in the US for some odd reason. You might have wondered why it is forbidden when the Beetle is visible in the US (well, not much today, but back in the day, yes). Just like any other Beetles, the Ultima Edicion also looks fantastic and still has that iconic turtle-like shape that everyone knows and likes. But the reason why it's banned stemmed from safety - the trunk is located in the front.
Although Ultima Edicion is not allowed to be in America, you may still get another Beetle model, which is just as fast or even faster. The sad thing, however, Volkswagen stopped the production of the Beetle two years ago.
Now let's throw in one luxury car in this list of banned cars in the US. Yes, costly vehicles like the Lamborghini Diablo (among others mentioned here) are not exempted from the NHTSA ban.
The world-renowned car designer Marcello Gandini designed the Lamborghini Diablo. Many considered the Diablo as one of the most powerful mid-engine sports cars from the Italian brand. It comes with a v12 engine and a might 485 brake horsepower. However, just like some of the entries of banned cars in the US here, the Diablo did not meet the safety requirements. Thus, the American government had to impose a ban from importing, though they allowed 25 units to enter the local market.
There was a time in automotive history that the Jaguar XJ220S was the "fastest car in the world". Given such a title, it's easy to say that it is one of the most popular vehicles during that time (1993). But then again, why are we not seeing Jaguar XJ220S anywhere? It is one of the rarest cars in the world, as Jaguar only produced six units. In addition, the NHTSA decided to ban this vehicle in the United States because of its lightning speed. The government deemed it would be a dangerous vehicle to drive, so they banned it altogether.
So, if you're dreaming of owning one one day, you may have difficulty looking for one. Also, you might have to relocate outside the US.
In 1999, three Japanese cars were rivaling each other. There's the Toyota Supra, the Mazda RX-7, and the Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R V-spec. It would have been easier for the Nissan Skyline to win the competition by a mile than the two other vehicles. The Skyline was the first to introduce a display screen on the dashboard to check vehicle statistics. It also came with a jack below the seat so the laptop can connect to the car's system for better evaluation.
So why did the US government include the 1999 Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R V-spec in the list of banned cars in the US? Like any other cars in this list, it was banned because it didn't meet the safety and environmental regulations required by the NHTSA.
