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Toyota plans to introduce the Scion KEI-01 mini truck in the United States in the second half of 2027. It will initially focus on the fleet and commercial markets, and hopes to revive the Scion brand.
toyota (toyota ) announced, inJapan A popular mini truck will go on sale in the United States next year. The mini multipurpose truck, called Scion KEI-01, measures just over 11 feet long, less than 5 feet wide and has a top speed of 25 mph. It will be sold to fleet manufacturers, not general consumers, at its initial launch in the United States, but it may become available for individual purchase in the future.
Toyota said the small truck will be assembled at Toyota’s existing car plant in Indiana, comply with federal law’s “low-speed vehicle” regulations, and enter the U.S. market in the second half of 2027. The mini truck features four-wheel drive, an enclosed bed with heating and cooling, and a cargo bed that can hold up to 600 pounds.
For this mini truck that cannot be driven on the highway, Toyota targets businesses and car owners who typically use small cars and low-speed industrial vehicles. Therefore, the customer base includes farmers, universities, municipal governments and companies that require small work vehicles.
Mini trucks have been popular in Japan for decades. However, Toyota established its Scion brand in 2003 and launched experimental products in hopes of attracting youth. However, the brand ended and production was discontinued in 2016.
Now it hopes to revive the Scion brand with the KEI-01 mini truck. Toyota believes the mini truck is expected to garner a large supporter base and is optimistic about its future growth in the US market. Toyota said in a press release that the newly launched Scion brand will become a laboratory for non-traditional vehicles and new mobility concepts.
After President Trump visited Japan last year, he said the Japanese-style mini truck was “really cute” and “like an old Beetle.” Trump had said at that time that he would try to sell mini trucks in the American market.
The New York Times analyzed on the 10th that from many aspects, the KEI-01 mini truck is completely different from traditional American pickup trucks such as Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado. American pickup trucks have become larger, heavier, and more expensive over the past few decades.
Although Toyota has not disclosed the price of the mini truck, it is expected to be significantly cheaper than the new Ford F-150, whose starting price exceeds 40,000 yuan.
Summary FAQ
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Toyota said the Scion KEI-01 will enter the US market in the second half of 2027 and will first be assembled at its Indiana plant to comply with federal regulations related to low-speed vehicles.
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In the initial phase, it will not be open to general consumers, but will be sold first to fleet builders and commercial customers. Targets include farmers, universities, municipal governments and companies in need of small work vehicles.
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This mini truck is a little over 11 feet long and less than 5 feet wide. Its maximum speed is 25 miles per hour. It has four-wheel drive, an enclosed heated and heated cabin, and a 600-pound cargo bed. It is mainly used for low speed operations.
