U.S. DOMESTIC MARKET CAR AND INTERNATIONAL MARKET CAR REGULATION

When a guy just brought Honda Fit from Japan and he already owned US-Spec Honda Fit, he realize that his JDM Honda Fit look different to his USDM Honda Fit. When he also brought Mitsubishi Pajero from Japan and he also already owned Mitsubishi Montero, he realize both same models have different name. JDM car speed gauge is just only show kilometer, but USDM car speed gauge use both mile and kilometer. Both steering wheel arrangements are arranging different. Both countries model are base on their government regulation.

US Spec Honda Fit (top)  vs. JP Spec Honda Fit (bottom)

Safety regulation are critical to all countries. However, the model is appear differently.  Like the bumper length since 1974, European market car bumper length is short while in the US, their regulation of the bumper was longer than bumper in International market. The US bumpers are more massive and farther from the bodywork.

Taillight and head are also different in the market. US headlight in 1940-1983 era required sealed beam headlamps while international headlamp required composite headlamps with aerodynamic covered lenses. Taillight regulation is also different too. For example, Euro Spec Mercedes-Benz is equipped with brake lights that flash quickly in response to hard brake pressure while U.S. brake lights are allowed to glow more brightly than the tail lamps and flashing is off-limits. For example, US version of BMW M5 E34 headlights equipped with free form headlight instead of ellipsoid headlights and fog lights in Europe.

Euro Citroen DS Headlamp (top) vs. US Citroen DS Headlamp (bottom)

The mirrors in US market are different to other countries. U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 111 requires that convex side view mirrors must have a curvature radius of between 889 mm and 1651 mm and not allows for aspheric mirror.  Safety Standard 111 also require the driver side mirror  to provide “unity magnification, an distorted 1:1 reflection achieved with a flat mirror.  The European ECE Regulation 46 permits planar, convex, and aspheric mirrors on either side of the vehicle and also requires that mirrors be mounted such that it swing away when struck by a test cylinder meant to indicate a pedestrian.

Flat Mirror (left) vs Aspheric Mirror (right)

The engine power are different compared in the other countries. For example, JDM Honda Integra engine has more power than USDM Acura Integra. The emission laws in the US cause car in US spec to dull down the Integra’s engine and then shipping to the US a waterdown Integra.

Car model name are different in worldwide. Car model name is base on appropriate language in foreign countries. Remember the first blog from the “Translation Confusion”, some models didn’t sold well in different countries because the name. Like Vauxhall Nova, Nova is only sell in UK while the other European Coutries named Nova as Opel Corsa because in Spain, Nova is really mean “it doesn’t go.” Another example, Mitsubishi Pajero is name after Pampas Cat, but in Spain and other Spanish speaking countries, “pajero” is unintentionally obscene slang for “wanker.” So, Spanish speaking countries call it “Montero”, mountain hunter, instead. In UK, Mitsubishi Pajero renamed as Shogun. Not all car model name that are insulting, but foreign market can change name such as Japan called Mazda Roadster instead of Mazda Miata in the US. Also, Japan called Nissan Fairlady Z instead of 370Z in the US.

Pajero is what other countries called.

The U.S. and Spanish speaking countries would called Montero due to insulted word.  You should say, “Wankermobile” or “Wanker Wagon.”

Overall depend what car you imported from? The UN regulation and US regulation are just simply difference. Therefore, it’s doesn’t matter. Safety is matter.