What’s the deal with the H100 Starex not being in the US?

Anyone know why the H100 Starex isn’t sold in the US? Seems like a good car, but I can’t figure out if it’s banned or just not imported.
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Are you sure it’s banned? Or maybe they just didn’t bother since it wouldn’t sell well here with all the emissions rules.

SonataSavvy1 said:
Are you sure it’s banned? Or maybe they just didn’t bother since it wouldn’t sell well here with all the emissions rules.

Not many people here seem to like minivans. Most families just go with SUVs instead.

@Gordon
I’d totally go for an electric minivan, though! I need space for 3 car seats, and my current EV only fits 2. It’s gotta be AWD, though. If that were an option, I’d get it over the Ioniq 9 that I’ve got my eye on.

SonataSavvy1 said:
Are you sure it’s banned? Or maybe they just didn’t bother since it wouldn’t sell well here with all the emissions rules.

I think it has more to do with the chicken tax.

@KonaKing
Actually, the Hyundai Staria has a 1.6 turbo hybrid engine.

MysticMuse said:
@KonaKing
Actually, the Hyundai Staria has a 1.6 turbo hybrid engine.

There’s also a diesel engine version.

BushnellRides said:

MysticMuse said:
@KonaKing
Actually, the Hyundai Staria has a 1.6 turbo hybrid engine.

There’s also a diesel engine version.

Yeah, it offers 3 options: a 2.2T diesel, a 3.5 NA LPG, and a 1.6T hybrid. They’d have to pay the 25% chicken tax to sell it in the US, though, because it’s classified as a cargo van.

SonataSavvy1 said:
Are you sure it’s banned? Or maybe they just didn’t bother since it wouldn’t sell well here with all the emissions rules.

So yeah, chicken tax is the reason.

The US market just misses out on so many good cars.

DanBurn said:
The US market just misses out on so many good cars.

I mean, look at the Toyota Hiace. That thing would destroy Ford and Chevy’s van sales. It’s insanely reliable.

DanBurn said:
The US market just misses out on so many good cars.

And don’t even get me started on the Ford Everest. Why don’t we get that here :sob:?

Either the chicken tax or Ford already owning the light-duty van market. Adapting the Starex to US rules probably didn’t seem worth the trouble.

Williamson said:
Either the chicken tax or Ford already owning the light-duty van market. Adapting the Starex to US rules probably didn’t seem worth the trouble.

Honestly, it looks more like a family van. Chrysler, Toyota, and Honda have that market locked down.

@CateYN
I thought so too, but according to Wikipedia (yeah, I know), it’s actually a light-duty commercial van with room for up to 12 passengers. So it’s more of a shuttle bus, which makes it even more niche.

@CateYN
That’s a family van? No way!

Lilian said:
@CateYN
That’s a family van? No way!

Now that I’m looking again, yeah, it does seem kind of small.

Williamson said:
Either the chicken tax or Ford already owning the light-duty van market. Adapting the Starex to US rules probably didn’t seem worth the trouble.

I think you might enjoy this video—it explains the whole chicken tax thing.

@XG350Xpert
I haven’t seen it, but I’ll check it out. Thanks! :smiley:

Same reason K trucks are hard to get here. EPA rules making life harder for everyone.