Toyota on Nov. 10, 2026 announced the revival of the Scion name in the United States and introduced the Scion KEI-01, a kei-class pickup that the company says will be built in Indiana and sold initially to fleet customers in the U.S.
Scion KEI-01 details
The KEI-01 is a compact, right-hand-drive kei truck powered by a 660cc three-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission and a four-wheel-drive system, according to The Drive, Jalopnik and Carscoops. Toyota says the truck is designed to meet U.S. Low-Speed Vehicle requirements under FMVSS No. 500 and will be limited to a top speed of 25 mph.
| Key specs | |
|---|---|
| Engine / Motor | 660 cc three-cylinder (Toyota/Japan kei spec) |
| Transmission | Continuously variable transmission (CVT) |
| Drive | Selectable four-wheel drive |
| Top speed | 25 mph (LSV limit) |
| Length / Width | Just over 11 ft / under 5 ft |
| Payload | 600 lb |
| Production | Built in Indiana; low-volume |
| Availability | Fleet customers only initially; second half of 2027 |
| Price | Undisclosed |
Sales, production and intended uses
Toyota said the Scion by Toyota sub-brand will sell the KEI-01 through a limited number of participating dealers and via Toyota’s fleet services division, with the vehicle aimed at small businesses, ranchers and operators needing a compact, efficient work vehicle, The Drive, Jalopnik and Carscoops reported. The automaker called production intentionally low-volume and said it expects the truck to arrive in the second half of 2027.
Regulatory and design notes
Because Toyota intends the KEI-01 to meet FMVSS No. 500 as a Low-Speed Vehicle, it will be limited to 25 mph and restricted to roads with lower posted speed limits, several outlets noted. The KEI-01 keeps kei-truck features such as three-way fold-down cargo walls, a low lift-over bed and an extended cabin with sliding and reclining seats; heating and air conditioning are standard, according to The Drive and Jalopnik. The truck’s right-hand-drive layout mirrors the vehicle’s Japanese-market Pixis/Daihatsu Hijet origins, the outlets reported.
Toyota is presenting Scion by Toyota as a mobility-focused “freedom lab” that will explore other small-format and off-road concepts; alongside the KEI-01 the company showed a hybrid side-by-side SxS concept and a folding electric micromobility bike called the BKE, though those remain concepts for now, The Drive and Jalopnik said.
Sources: Toyota Newsroom, Motor1, The Drive, Jalopnik, Carscoops