AI Image
Toyota Revives Scion Brand With US-Legal Kei Truck, and There’s More Where That Came From
The Drive • • business
Key Points:
- Toyota is reviving the Scion brand and will introduce a U.S.-built Kei truck called the KEI-01, set to arrive in the second half of 2027, but it will be sold only to fleets in limited volumes and restricted to a top speed of 25 mph.
- The KEI-01 will be manufactured in Indiana, feature a 660cc three-cylinder engine with CVT and four-wheel drive, and comply with low-speed vehicle federal safety standards (FMVSS No. 500).
- Designed as a compact work vehicle for ranchers and small business operators, the KEI-01 is right-hand drive, about 11 feet long and under 5 feet wide, with a 600-pound payload capacity and a three-way fold-down cargo bed.
- Scion’s return marks Toyota’s effort to create a "Freedom Lab" for testing new mobility concepts, including the KEI-01, a UTV with a hybrid powertrain, and an electric collapsible bike called the BKE, though production plans for the latter two remain uncertain.
- While the KEI-01 is initially limited to fleet sales, Toyota may consider expanding to limited retail availability depending on demand and market conditions.
