Scion KEI-01: Toyota's Indiana-Built 25-mph Kei Truck

What is the Scion KEI-01?

A kei vehicle is built to Japan's light vehicle rules. The KEI-01 runs a 660cc three-cylinder gas engine with a continuously variable transmission. It is not fast, but it should cope with stop-and-go work while sipping fuel.

Size is the trick. At roughly 11 feet long and under 5 feet wide, it has about half the footprint of a full-size pickup, so it fits down alleys, barn aisles and garden gates. An on-demand 4WD system with a push-button lock helps in mud, gravel and slush.

The bed has three sides that fold flat and holds up to 600 pounds. Unlike a utility cart or ATV, the cabin is fully sealed, with heating, air conditioning, reclining seats and storage behind them. The interior is mostly black plastic, which hopefully keeps the price down. Toyota hasn't given one, though imported Japanese kei trucks usually cost $6,000 to $12,000.

Can you buy a Scion KEI-01?

Not at first. Because it is certified as a federal Low-Speed Vehicle, the same category as golf carts, the top speed is capped at 25 mph. It launches as a fleet pilot for corporate campuses, farms, municipalities and local delivery businesses, sold through a select group of Toyota dealers. Toyota says retail sales may follow if demand justifies it.

The timing makes sense. More than 30,000 used kei trucks have been imported into the US since 2020, roughly 7,500 a year. President Trump said last year he had authorized the Department of Transportation to approve their production.

Toyota also showed two concepts. The SxS Concept has a hybrid turbo setup with more than 300 horsepower for fast off-roading, and the modular BKE Concept explores compact personal mobility.