Toyota just brought back Scion, and the first vehicle is a tiny 11-foot kei truck that can’t go faster than 25 mph. The Scion KEI-01 is a right-hand-drive, four-wheel-drive mini pickup that Toyota will assemble in Indiana starting in the second half of 2027. It is aimed at fleets first, there is no price yet, and it is legal in the US for one specific reason: it is classified as a low-speed vehicle.
Toyota announced the “Scion by Toyota” sub-brand on Tuesday, November 10, 2026. Here is what the company has confirmed, what it has not, and what the 25-mph cap means for anyone hoping to park one in their driveway.
Table of Contents
Scion KEI-01 at a Glance
| Spec | What Toyota / Reports Say |
|---|---|
| Engine | 660cc three-cylinder, naturally aspirated |
| Transmission / Drive | CVT, selectable four-wheel drive with auto mode and push-button lock |
| Top speed | 25 mph (limited in the engine computer, per Car and Driver) |
| Size | Just over 11 ft long, under 5 ft wide |
| Payload | Up to 600 lb, drop-side bed |
| Weight | Under 2,000 lb (Car and Driver) |
| Seating / Steering | Two seats, right-hand drive |
| Comfort | Heating and A/C, power windows, power points, touchscreen, a few driver aids |
| Production | Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, from 2H 2027 |
| Price | Not announced |
Why It Is Legal: The 25-MPH Catch
The KEI-01 is built to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 500, the low-speed vehicle (LSV) rule. LSVs are four-wheeled vehicles under 3,000 lb that can exceed 20 mph but not 25 mph. That classification is what lets Toyota sell a kei-style truck without putting it through the full crash-test standards for regular pickups, and it is why the right-hand-drive layout survives.
The trade-off is where you can drive it. LSVs are generally limited to roads with posted speed limits up to 35 mph and can cross faster roads only at intersections. Rules differ by state, so check your local DMV before assuming it can be your daily driver. The same regulatory route recently opened the door for the Fiat Topolino in the US.
Who Can Actually Buy It?
Not most people, at least not at first. Toyota calls the KEI-01 an intentionally low-volume, niche vehicle and is launching it through a fleet-focused pilot program. Sales will run through a small group of “Scion by Toyota” dealers chosen from the existing Toyota network, and the target uses are farms, construction sites, campuses and other fleet work.
Toyota is putting $34 million into its Indiana plant for the project, which it says will add about 50 jobs. Autoblog reports the trucks will be assembled from knockdown kits imported from Japan. Reports also point to the Daihatsu Hijet and Toyota Pixis as the donor truck, though Toyota has not named one.
Until retail sales open up, private buyers who want a kei truck are still limited to the used imports that have been popular in the US for years.
The Other Two Scion Concepts
The KEI-01 was not alone at the reveal. Toyota also showed the Scion SxS Concept, a side-by-side with a turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain making over 300 hp, and the BKE Concept, a folding electric bike that Toyota says fits in the trunk of a GR86. Only the KEI-01 has been confirmed for production.
This is not the Scion you remember. The old brand, launched in 2002 to chase young buyers, was shut down in 2016. The 2027 version is positioned as an experimental lab for small mobility ideas.
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What We Still Don’t Know
- Price: Toyota has not given any figure.
- Retail availability: The launch is fleet-first, and there is no confirmed date for individual buyers.
- Power output: Toyota has not published horsepower or torque for the 660cc engine.
- Dealer list: The selected Scion by Toyota dealers have not been named.
Autoakhbar Take
The KEI-01 is clever regulation-engineering more than a car for the masses. It gives Toyota a legal, US-built answer to the kei truck craze, but the 25-mph cap and fleet-first rollout mean most enthusiasts will be watching from the sidelines for now. The real signal is that Toyota is willing to use the Scion name again to test unusual ideas. If the pilot works, expect more small, low-speed vehicles to follow.
FAQ
What is the Scion KEI-01?
It is a small four-wheel-drive kei-style truck with a 660cc three-cylinder engine and a CVT, to be built in Indiana from the second half of 2027.
How fast can the Scion KEI-01 go?
It is capped at 25 mph because it is classified as a low-speed vehicle under FMVSS 500.
Can anyone buy the Scion KEI-01?
Not at launch. It starts as a fleet-focused pilot through select Scion by Toyota dealers, with no confirmed timeline for individual retail buyers.
How much will the KEI-01 cost?
Toyota has not announced pricing.
Sources
- Toyota Newsroom: Introducing the Scion by Toyota brand and KEI-01
- Autoblog: Toyota Is Bringing Scion Back With a Tiny 25-MPH Kei Truck
- Jalopnik: Toyota Revives The Scion Brand In The U.S. With A Right-Hand-Drive Kei Truck
- The Drive: Toyota Revives Scion Brand With US-Legal Kei Truck
- Motor1: Scion Is Back, And It’s Bringing A Tiny Kei Truck To America
- Yahoo Autos: Toyota Brought Back Scion to Sell a Kei Truck in America
Note: Specifications are as announced by Toyota and reported by the outlets above. LSV road rules vary by state.