Texas — Toyota’s first product under the new Scion by Toyota brand is a right-hand-drive mini truck. The Toyota KEI-01 pairs selectable four-wheel drive with a fully enclosed cab, heat and air conditioning, and a cargo bed rated for up to 600 pounds. Toyota plans to assemble it in Indiana and begin U.S. fleet sales in the second half of 2027
For anyone shopping for a utility side-by-side to haul tools or supplies around a ranch, campus or work site, the KEI-01 offers a different take on the same job. It’s under five feet wide and has a pickup-style bed that opens on three sides. Its 25-mph top speed makes it a better fit for short trips around a property than for jobs that involve longer runs.
What the Toyota KEI-01 Offers for Work
The KEI-01 uses a 660cc three-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). Selectable four-wheel drive includes an automatic mode and push-button lockup for conditions such as mud, snow and uneven ground. The truck measures just over 11 feet long, and the fold-down bed sides let you load from either side as well as from the rear.
The extended cab has a raised roofline, sliding and reclining seats, and storage behind the seats. Toyota says the truck is designed to meet federal low-speed vehicle requirements, with a maximum speed of 25 mph. Toyota gave a bed payload figure but did not specify a tow rating in the announcement.
Indiana Assembly and a Fleet Pilot in 2027
Toyota says the truck originates in Japan and will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana. The company plans to invest $34 million in the operation and expects it to add about 50 jobs. Initial sales will go to fleet customers through a small group of Scion by Toyota dealers selected from the existing Toyota dealer network.
Toyota is targeting customers such as farms, ranches, municipalities, universities and small businesses. The company may consider limited retail sales after the pilot, depending on demand and market conditions. Pricing and a retail date are still open.
Toyota’s Kei Truck Roots in Japan
Toyota has sold a kei truck in Japan since 2011, when it introduced the Daihatsu-built Pixis Truck, a Toyota-badged version of the Hijet Truck. Toyota’s Japanese-market Pixis is available with a 658cc engine, CVT and four-wheel drive. That’s a close comparison on paper. Toyota’s KEI-01 announcement leaves open which parts, if any, the two trucks share.
Toyota also brought its hybrid Scion side-by-side concept first shown at SEMA in 2025 to the reveal. The company says it will continue developing the side-by-side, while the KEI-01 is the first Scion by Toyota model with a sales timetable.
