· Desk editor: Sophie Bennett · · 2 sources ·Updated

Toyota revives Scion brand for Indiana-made kei truck

Toyota will launch a new Scion kei truck in the United States during the second half of 2027.

Toyota Is Finally Bringing a Kei Truck to America, but It Tops Out at 25 MPH
File photo Toyota Is Finally Bringing a Kei Truck to America, but It Tops Out at 25 MPH Photo: Hypebeast

American fleet utility vehicle arrives

The automaker assembles this compact vehicle at its Indiana factory for American fleets. The KEI-01 measures just over 11 feet in length and stays under five feet wide. Its right-hand drive layout features a 660cc three-cylinder gas engine paired with an automatic transmission. Federal low-speed vehicle rules cap the top speed strictly at 25 mph for this model.

Fleet pilot program launches late 2027

Assembly begins under a $34 million investment that creates roughly 50 new jobs. The truck features an on-demand four-wheel drive system with a push-button locking mode for mud or gravel. Inside the sealed cabin, heating and air conditioning keep drivers comfortable while sliding seats recline. The cargo bed folds flat to hold up to 600 pounds of soil or tools.

Scion returns as mobility incubator

This revived brand serves as an experimental testing ground for utility and outdoor adventure concepts. Toyota discontinued the original Scion badge in 2016 before bringing it back for this specific purpose. More than 30,000 used kei trucks have entered the US market since the year 2020. President Trump authorized the Department of Transportation to approve their production last year.

All 2 outlets report consistently

No differences in figures, names or dates across these reports.

  • The Verge
  • Hypebeast

Reported by

2 independent outlets. Headlines as published. Links open the original report.