Toyota revives Scion with KEI-01 kei truck for U.S. fleets in 2027
Toyota Motor North America has revived Scion as Scion by Toyota, and its first vehicle is the KEI-01, a compact kei truck arriving in the U.S. in the second half of 2027. Initial sales will focus on fleet customers through a pilot program and a small network of Scion by Toyota dealers, and Toyota said it may consider limited retail sales later. The right-hand-drive truck will be built in Indiana and is limited to 25 mph as a low-speed vehicle.
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Key takeaways
The KEI-01 arrives in the U.S. in the second half of 2027, with initial sales focused on fleet customers through a pilot program.
Toyota Indiana will assemble the truck, backed by a $34 million investment that Toyota says will add about 50 new jobs.
As a low-speed vehicle under FMVSS No. 500, the right-hand-drive KEI-01 has a 25 mph top speed and a payload of up to 600 pounds.
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Toyota Motor North America has revived the Scion name as Scion by Toyota and introduced the brand's first vehicle, the KEI-01, an ultra-compact utility truck modeled on Japan's kei trucks. Toyota said the KEI-01 will arrive in the U.S. in the second half of 2027 and that initial sales will focus on fleet customers.
The brand was introduced Nov. 9 at simultaneous events in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, and Frisco, Texas, according to Toyota's Nov. 10 announcement. Toyota calls Scion by Toyota a "freedom lab" for testing new ideas in mobility. The Drive notes the revival comes about a decade after Toyota shut down the original Scion brand.
A fleet pilot, not a retail launch
Toyota describes the KEI-01 as an intentionally low-volume, niche vehicle. It will first be offered through a fleet-focused pilot program meant to help the company learn how to serve U.S. customers and use cases. Sales will run through a small network of Scion by Toyota dealers selected from the existing Toyota dealer network.
Toyota said it may consider limited retail sales later, depending on market conditions, customer demand and operational considerations, and that more on the sales strategy will be shared as plans are finalized. Pricing has not been announced. The Drive described the retail outlook as "not a no, but it's far from a yes."
Toyota lists the customers it has in mind: small business owners looking for an affordable urban commercial vehicle, farmers and ranchers, municipalities, universities and corporate campuses running fleets, delivery and service providers in cities, and outdoor enthusiasts and hobbyists.
Built in Indiana, capped at 25 mph
The KEI-01 will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana starting in the second half of 2027, backed by a $34 million investment that Toyota says will add about 50 new jobs. The investment covers new vehicle assembly operations and upgrades to production and logistics infrastructure. Hagerty notes the truck will be built at the same plant as the Highlander, Grand Highlander and Sienna.
The truck is right-hand drive and is designed to comply with FMVSS No. 500, the federal safety standard for low-speed vehicles, which limits its top speed to 25 mph. The Drive reports the same truck is sold in Japan as the Pixis, and that Toyota will build and sell it in right-hand-drive form in the U.S.
What the KEI-01 carries
The KEI-01 comes standard with a 660cc three-cylinder engine, a continuously variable transmission and selectable four-wheel drive with an auto mode and push-button lock. The bed folds down on three sides for loading from a lower height. Toyota rates payload at up to 600 pounds and says the truck has the structural rigidity to tow small trailers and equipment. Hagerty notes Toyota has not published a tow rating.
The extended cab has a raised roofline, reclining and sliding seats, storage behind the seats, and standard heat and air conditioning. Toyota puts the length at just over 11 feet and the width at under 5 feet.
Two more Scion concepts
Toyota also showed two concepts under the Scion by Toyota name. The SxS Concept, first seen at the 2025 SEMA Show, is a side-by-side off-roader with a turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain producing more than 300 horsepower and an electric Silent Mode. The BKE Concept is a compact personal mobility concept, which The Drive describes as a collapsible electric bike that folds in 30 seconds. The Drive notes it is not yet known whether either concept will enter production.
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