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Toyota is bringing back Scion as a mobility-focused program and plans to sell its KEI-01 miniature truck to U.S. fleet operators in limited numbers starting in the second half of 2027. The Indiana-built, right-hand-drive vehicle will be limited to 25 mph and is not currently planned for general retail sale. Toyota also displayed a UTV concept and a folding electric bike, but has not confirmed either for production.
Toyota is reviving Scion as a mobility-focused program and plans to bring a U.S.-built kei-style truck, the KEI-01, to fleet customers in the second half of 2027. The small, right-hand-drive truck will be sold in limited volumes through Toyota’s fleet services division and capped at 25 mph, making it a specialized work vehicle rather than a road-speed pickup for general buyers.
Toyota says the KEI-01 will be built in Indiana and offered only to fleet operators at launch, through selected Toyota dealers operating under the Scion name. The company has not announced a price. It said a later expansion to limited retail sales could be considered, depending on consumer demand, market conditions and operational factors; no retail decision has been made.
The truck uses a 660cc three-cylinder engine, a continuously variable transmission and four-wheel drive. It is just over 11 feet long and less than five feet wide, with a maximum payload of 600 pounds. Its two-door cab has a raised roof, while the cargo bed folds down on three sides. Toyota says heat and air conditioning will be standard.
Although built in Indiana for the U.S. market, the KEI-01 will have right-hand drive. Toyota says it is designed to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 500, the federal requirements for low-speed vehicles. Its 25-mph limit reflects that classification. Toyota is pitching it to ranchers and small businesses that need a compact vehicle for work in places where space and efficiency matter.
A Fleet-Only First Step for Scion
The announcement gives Scion a different role from its former identity as Toyota’s youth-oriented passenger-car brand. Toyota describes the revived name as a “Freedom Lab” for testing mobility ideas on and off pavement. The KEI-01 is the first announced product, but its narrow customer base and low-speed classification mean it is not a direct substitute for a conventional pickup or a broadly available kei truck.
For fleet buyers, the vehicle’s small footprint and four-wheel drive may suit limited-access work sites or local operations, but the 600-pound payload and 25-mph cap also define what it can do. For consumers interested in kei vehicles, the key distinction is that Toyota has not announced a retail launch. The company’s willingness to consider one later is not a commitment.
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Toyota discontinued Scion about a decade ago after creating it as a brand aimed at younger buyers. The automaker is now reintroducing the name through a mobility program rather than announcing a conventional lineup of passenger cars. Toyota’s selected dealers will sell the KEI-01 under the revived brand, while the company evaluates other mobility concepts.
One is a Scion UTV concept shown at the 2025 SEMA show. It featured long-travel suspension and a turbocharged 2.4-liter hybrid powertrain drawn from the Tacoma TRD Pro, according to the source report. Toyota has not confirmed a production version. The company also displayed the BKE, a collapsible electric two-wheeler that reportedly folds in 30 seconds and can be charged from a 110-volt outlet in a Toyota vehicle. Detailed specifications and production plans for the bike were not announced.
“The KEI-01 could be considered for limited retail sales at a later date depending on consumer demand, market conditions and operational considerations.”
— Toyota
Price, Retail Access and Production Plans
Toyota has not disclosed the KEI-01’s price, fleet volume or exact launch date beyond saying sales are planned for the second half of 2027. It is also not clear which Toyota dealers will be selected or how many fleet customers will be able to order the truck.
Retail availability remains conditional, and Toyota has not said whether the UTV or BKE concept will enter production. The source report describes the KEI-01 as designed to meet low-speed-vehicle requirements, but further details on its equipment, certification and operating restrictions have not been provided in the announcement material.
Fleet Launch Planned for 2027
Toyota’s next stated milestone is the KEI-01’s planned fleet-market arrival in the second half of 2027. Before then, the company may release pricing, order details, dealer information and additional vehicle specifications. Any decision to broaden sales beyond fleet operators will depend on the factors Toyota identified, and the company has not set a timetable for that review.
Scion’s other concepts remain exploratory for now. Toyota has shown the UTV and folding electric bike, but has not announced production dates or confirmed that either will be sold. The KEI-01 is the only vehicle in the revived program with a stated sales plan.
Key Questions
Will Toyota sell the KEI-01 to individual buyers?
Not at launch. Toyota plans limited sales to fleet operators through its fleet services division. It may consider limited retail sales later, but has not committed to them.
When will the KEI-01 arrive in the United States?
Toyota says fleet sales are planned for the second half of 2027. An exact date has not been announced.
How fast can the KEI-01 go?
The truck will be limited to 25 mph and is designed to meet federal low-speed-vehicle requirements, Toyota says.
What other vehicles are part of Scion’s return?
Toyota displayed a UTV concept and the folding electric BKE bike. The company has not confirmed production plans for either one.
Source: thedrive.com
