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Toyota to bring mini trucks to US market
Toyota says the low-speed truck will be sold only to fleets at first and could expand to limited retail sales if demand is strong.
- Toyota announced on Tuesday it is reviving the Scion brand as 'Scion by Toyota,' with the 11-foot-long KEI-01 truck entering production at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana for fleet customers in the second half of 2027.
- Repositioned as a 'freedom lab,' Scion shifts from targeting young buyers to capturing niche markets through utility and mobility innovation with the compact, right-hand-drive vehicle.
- The KEI-01 features a 660cc three-cylinder engine and 600-pound payload capacity, complying with federal Low-Speed Vehicle requirements with a maximum speed limited to 25 miles per hour.
- President Trump encouraged the move, targeting fleet operators including small businesses and farmers. Toyota may consider limited retail sales later depending on demand and operational considerations.
- Alongside the KEI-01, Toyota showcased the BKE Concept scooter and the Scion SxS Concept, emphasizing experimental mobility solutions. Both concept vehicles remain in development with no formal production timeline announced.
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76 Articles
76 Articles
Toyota set for US production of tiny 'kei' trucks admired by Trump, with a catch
Japanese carmaker Toyota announced plans to begin U.S. production of tiny “kei” trucks of the kind that roam the streets of Tokyo and have drawn the fawning admiration of President Donald Trump, but with a major catch. The truck, the Scion KEI-01, which will have a 660 cc three-cylinder engine and four-wheel drive, will be […]
·Washington, United States
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Toyota’s Scion is back, starting with an American-made, 25-mph kei truck
Toyota is dusting off the Scion badge for a radically different mission. Rather than targeting youth-market hatchbacks, "Scion by Toyota" is being positioned as an experimental mobility incubator - and its first vehicle is an authentic Japanese-style kei truck built in Indiana. Kei vehicles, which are built to satisfy Japan's light vehicle regulations, are enjoying […]
·United States
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources76
Leaning Left11Leaning Right6Center33Last UpdatedBias Distribution66% Center
Bias Distribution
- 66% of the sources are Center
66% Center
L 22%
C 66%
12%
Factuality
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