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Toyota is bringing back Scion as a mobility-focused division and plans to sell the KEI-01, a U.S.-built, right-hand-drive kei truck, to fleet operators in limited numbers starting in the second half of 2027. The 25-mph vehicle is designed to meet federal low-speed vehicle requirements; Toyota has not confirmed a retail launch or disclosed pricing.
Toyota is reviving Scion as a mobility-focused initiative and plans to bring its KEI-01 kei truck to the U.S. in the second half of 2027. The Indiana-built truck will initially be available only in limited numbers to fleet operators through selected Toyota dealers, and its top speed will be 25 mph.
Toyota says the KEI-01 will be sold through its fleet services division as a low-volume vehicle for operators such as ranchers and small businesses. The company has not announced a price. It said it could consider limited retail sales later, depending on consumer demand, market conditions and operational considerations; that possibility is not a confirmed plan.
The truck uses a 660cc three-cylinder engine, a continuously variable transmission and four-wheel drive. It will be right-hand drive, with a two-door cab and raised roofline. Toyota says the model is designed to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 500, the requirements for low-speed vehicles, which limits its speed to 25 mph.
The KEI-01 is just over 11 feet long and less than 5 feet wide, with a maximum payload of 600 pounds. Its three-way fold-down cargo bed is designed for easy loading, and heat and air conditioning are standard. Toyota plans to build it in Indiana, though it is based on the Pixis kei truck sold in Japan.
A Narrow Route for U.S. Kei Trucks
The announcement puts a Toyota-backed kei truck on a defined path to the U.S. market, but its initial role is much narrower than a conventional consumer vehicle launch. The fleet-only sales plan and 25-mph limit point to use in controlled work settings, where a compact footprint and cargo bed may matter more than road speed.
For buyers hoping to use a kei truck for regular public-road driving, the announcement does not establish that the KEI-01 will be available or suitable for that purpose. Toyota has framed it as a low-speed work vehicle, and any wider retail availability remains conditional. The launch also offers Toyota a way to test demand for small-scale mobility products under a revived Scion identity.
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Scion Returns as a Mobility Lab
Toyota discontinued Scion about a decade ago after using it as a brand aimed at younger buyers. The company is now bringing the name back in a different role: a “Freedom Lab” intended to explore mobility ideas on and off pavement. Toyota says the KEI-01 is the first step in that effort, with sales handled by selected existing Toyota dealers under the Scion name.
The return follows earlier concept presentations. Toyota showed a Scion-branded off-road UTV at the 2025 SEMA show, with long-travel suspension and a turbocharged 2.4-liter hybrid powertrain drawn from the Tacoma TRD Pro. The company also displayed the BKE, a collapsible electric two-wheeler that it says folds in 30 seconds and can fit in the trunk of a GR 86. Toyota has not announced production plans for either concept.
“The truck is aimed at ranchers, small business owners and operators where space and efficiency are at a premium.”
— Toyota, describing the KEI-01’s potential customer base
Retail Access and Concept Plans
Toyota has not disclosed the KEI-01’s price, the size of its initial production run, or which dealers will handle sales. It is also unclear how many fleet customers will be able to obtain one and what availability will look like beyond the planned launch period.
Retail sales are only under consideration, subject to several factors, and are not confirmed. Toyota has not said whether the UTV or BKE concept will enter production, or when it might make those decisions. The supplied details also do not specify the truck’s full equipment, range or other performance figures.
Fleet Launch Set for 2027
Toyota’s stated next milestone is the KEI-01’s planned arrival in the second half of 2027. Before then, further announcements would be needed to clarify pricing, fleet volumes, ordering and participating dealers. Toyota may also provide more information on how it will support the truck’s intended work uses.
The company has not set a date for decisions about retail sales or the UTV and BKE concepts. For now, the KEI-01 is the only Scion revival vehicle with a stated U.S. sales plan; the other showcased ideas remain experiments without confirmed production schedules.
Key Questions
When will the Toyota Scion KEI-01 arrive?
Toyota plans to bring the KEI-01 to the U.S. in the second half of 2027. The company has not given a specific on-sale date.Can individual buyers purchase the KEI-01?
Not under the initial plan. Toyota says it will sell the truck in limited numbers to fleet operators. It may consider limited retail sales later, but has not committed to them.Why is the KEI-01 limited to 25 mph?
Toyota says it is designed to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 500, which covers low-speed vehicles. The announced maximum speed is 25 mph.How much will the KEI-01 cost?
Toyota has not announced a price. It also has not disclosed the planned production volume.Will Toyota build the Scion UTV or BKE bike?
Their production status is unconfirmed. Toyota displayed both as concepts, but has not announced U.S. sales plans or production timing for either.Source: thedrive.com
