Toyota is reviving the Scion brand and launching the Scion Kei-01, a three-cylinder kei truck built for the U.S. market. The Kei-01 uses a 660cc three-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission and four-wheel drive with push-button lock-up. It measures 11 feet long and five feet wide, smaller than a modern Mini Cooper, with a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour and a 600-pound payload capacity.
The truck will be right-hand-drive and designed to comply with federal safety requirements for low-speed vehicles. Toyota added an easily accessible three-way fold-down cargo bed and extended cabin with a raised roofline for the North American market. Power figures have not been disclosed.
Initially, the Kei-01 will launch as a fleet vehicle through a pilot program targeting small business owners, farmers, municipalities, universities, corporate campuses, last-mile delivery services, and outdoor enthusiasts. Fleet sales will route through select Toyota dealerships. Production begins in the second half of 2027 at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana. Toyota stated it is "open to expanding availability" and may "consider expanding availability to limited retail sales at a later date."
Toyota showcased two additional Scion concepts. The SxS Concept is an off-road side-by-side with a turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain producing over 300 horsepower and a Silent Mode for electric-only operation. The BKE Concept is a two-wheeled personal mobility scooter for outdoor commuting, though Toyota provided no additional details.
Simon Humphries, chief branding officer and head of design for Toyota Motor Corporation, said "Scion by Toyota gives us a place to challenge conventional thinking, explore new possibilities and create mobility in new ways." Toyota positioned Scion as a "freedom lab" for experimentation rather than focusing on young buyers exclusively.