TL;DR
Toyota is reviving Scion as a mobility-focused division and plans to sell its KEI-01 mini truck to U.S. fleet operators in limited numbers beginning in the second half of 2027. The Indiana-built, right-hand-drive truck is capped at 25 mph under low-speed vehicle rules; retail sales are only a possibility, while Scion’s UTV and folding electric bike remain concepts.
Toyota is bringing back Scion as a mobility-focused division and plans to introduce the KEI-01, a U.S.-built mini truck, in the second half of 2027. The truck will initially be offered in limited volumes to fleet operators, not general retail buyers, and its top speed will be 25 mph under federal low-speed vehicle requirements.
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The KEI-01 will be built in Indiana and sold through Toyota’s fleet services division, with selected Toyota dealers handling sales through the Scion name. Toyota has not disclosed a price or the number of trucks it plans to produce. It is aimed at ranchers, small businesses and other operators who need a compact vehicle for work in places where space and efficiency matter.
The truck uses a 660cc three-cylinder engine, a continuously variable transmission and four-wheel drive. It will be right-hand drive, with a two-door cab and raised roofline as its sole configuration. Its cargo bed folds down on three sides. Toyota lists a maximum payload of 600 pounds; the vehicle is just over 11 feet long and less than 5 feet wide. Heating and air conditioning will be standard.
Toyota says the KEI-01 is designed to meet FMVSS No. 500, the federal safety standard for low-speed vehicles. The 25-mph limit is a defining restriction, rather than a performance claim about a conventional road-going truck. Toyota has not announced an expected price, production volume or specific delivery date beyond the second half of 2027.
A Fleet Truck, Not a Retail Kei
The announcement gives U.S. fleet operators a potential new option for short-distance work, but it does not amount to a broad arrival of road-speed kei trucks for American consumers. The KEI-01’s 25-mph cap and fleet-only launch sharply limit where and how it can be used. Its small footprint and 600-pound payload may suit some worksites, ranches or private facilities, but the source material does not establish its range, fuel economy or operating costs.
The distinction matters because interest in kei vehicles can evoke compact Japanese trucks that operate at ordinary road speeds. Toyota’s version is instead being developed to comply with low-speed vehicle rules. Its initial availability will also depend on Toyota’s limited-volume fleet plan, with no announced retail launch. The revival of Scion is therefore a test of new mobility products, not a return to the brand’s former lineup of consumer cars.
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Scion’s New Mobility Role
Toyota discontinued Scion roughly a decade ago after using it as a youth-oriented brand. The company is now bringing back the name as a “Freedom Lab” for testing mobility ideas on and off pavement. The KEI-01 is the first announced production-bound step in that effort, according to the report.
Toyota had previewed the initiative with a UTV concept shown at the 2025 SEMA show. That off-road vehicle featured long-travel suspension and a turbocharged 2.4-liter hybrid powertrain from the Tacoma TRD Pro, according to The Drive. Toyota also showed the BKE, a collapsible electric two-wheeler that the company says can fold in 30 seconds and fit in the trunk of a GR 86. The report provides no production commitment for either concept.
“The KEI-01 is designed to comply with FMVSS No. 500.”
— Toyota, as reported by The Drive
Price, Volume and Retail Plans
Toyota has not released the KEI-01’s price, production total or exact arrival date. It is also unclear which fleets or locations will receive the first vehicles, or what operating requirements will apply beyond the federal low-speed vehicle standard. Toyota has described retail sales only as something it may consider later; no consumer availability has been confirmed.
The future of the UTV and BKE concepts is also unresolved. The report says Toyota appears to be considering UTV production, but it cites no production decision or schedule. No meaningful technical specifications were released for the BKE beyond its folding time and ability to recharge from a 110-volt outlet in a Toyota vehicle.
Toyota’s 2027 Fleet Launch
The next stated milestone is the KEI-01’s planned arrival in the second half of 2027. Toyota has not provided a more precise launch date. Before then, the company may release pricing, fleet ordering details and further specifications, but none have been announced in the source material.
For Scion’s other projects, the key development to watch is whether Toyota makes a formal production announcement for the UTV or BKE. Until then, both remain concepts, and the KEI-01 remains the only confirmed vehicle planned for sale under the revived name.
Key Questions
When will Toyota’s KEI-01 be available?
Toyota plans to bring the KEI-01 to the U.S. in the second half of 2027. It has not announced an exact date.Can consumers buy the KEI-01?
Not at launch, based on the announcement reported by The Drive. Toyota plans to sell it in limited numbers to fleet operators and says it may consider limited retail sales later, depending on demand and other factors.Why is the truck limited to 25 mph?
Toyota says the KEI-01 is designed to meet FMVSS No. 500, the federal standard for low-speed vehicles. Its stated maximum speed is 25 mph.How much will the KEI-01 cost?
Toyota has not announced a price. The company also has not disclosed its planned production volume.Are the Scion UTV and BKE electric bike going into production?
No production plans have been confirmed for either concept. Toyota displayed the UTV and folding BKE alongside the KEI-01, but their production status remains undecided in the report.Source: thedrive.com
