Toyota Motor North America has launched Scion by Toyota, a new mobility brand, and unveiled its first vehicle, the KEI-01 ultra-compact utility truck.
The truck takes Toyota Motor North America into the commercial low-speed vehicle segment.
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The KEI-01 is scheduled to enter the US market in the second half of 2027, with assembly at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana under a $34m investment programme.
Toyota said the investment will establish new vehicle assembly operations and upgrade production and logistics infrastructure at the site, and the programme is expected to create approximately 50 jobs.
The right-hand-drive model adapts Japan’s traditional kei truck format to US regulations and is engineered to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard guidelines, with a factory-limited top speed of 25mph (40km/h).
At just over 11 feet long and under five feet wide, it offers compact manoeuvrability in dense urban environments and confined work yards.
Power comes from a 660cc three-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission.
Selectable four-wheel drive is standard, with an automatic mode and push-button lock-up for traction on mud, snow and uneven ground.
The extended cab has a raised roofline, full heating and air conditioning, and interior storage behind sliding and reclining seats.
The cargo bed folds down three ways and carries a payload of up to 600lb (272.1kg).
Toyota plans to begin with a rollout focused on fleet customers, served through a small network of authorised Scion by Toyota dealers selected from its existing Toyota dealer network.
Target applications include municipal fleets, university and corporate campuses, agricultural operations and urban last-mile delivery providers.
The rollout is expected to function as a commercial pilot, allowing Toyota to learn how it can best serve US customers and use cases before considering limited retail distribution.
The company is aiming the truck at customers seeking a right-sized utility vehicle with versatility and durability without the size or expense of a conventional pickup.
Toyota Motor Corporation design head and chief branding officer Simon Humphries said: “The future of mobility will not be defined by one vehicle, one technology or one way of thinking. Scion by Toyota gives us a place to challenge conventional thinking, explore new possibilities and create mobility in new ways.”
