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TOYOTA · MANUFACTURER NEWS · NOVEMBER 11, 2026

Scion Returns With a Tiny Truck and a Very Different Mission

Scion is back, but anyone expecting another boxy xB aimed at young American car buyers should reset their expectations. Toyota’s revived nameplate is becoming a “mobility experimentation” brand, starting with a tiny work truck rather than a conventional passenger-car lineup.

The KEI-01 begins a very different chapter for Scion by Toyota.
The KEI-01 begins a very different chapter for Scion by Toyota. Photo: Toyota.

Called Scion by Toyota, the venture brings together practical utility, outdoor recreation and personal transportation. Its first vehicle, the KEI-01, illustrates just how different this approach will be.

The KEI-01 has a right-hand-drive cabin.
The KEI-01 has a right-hand-drive cabin. Photo: Toyota.

The right-hand-drive truck combines a 660cc three-cylinder engine, continuously variable transmission and four-wheel drive. At just over 11 feet long and under five feet wide, it offers a three-way fold-down cargo bed, up to 600 pounds of bed payload, and an enclosed cabin with heating and air conditioning.

Toyota lists up to 600 pounds of bed payload for the compact KEI-01.
Toyota lists up to 600 pounds of bed payload for the compact KEI-01. Photo: Toyota.

There’s a substantial catch for anyone picturing a miniature highway pickup: maximum speed is 25 mph. Toyota says the KEI-01 is designed to meet applicable federal low-speed vehicle requirements.

The SxS concept explores hybrid-powered off-road recreation.
The SxS concept explores hybrid-powered off-road recreation. Photo: Toyota.

Toyota plans Indiana assembly and a U.S. arrival in the second half of 2027. Initial distribution will be a low-volume, fleet-focused pilot through selected Toyota dealers. Limited retail sales might follow; general consumer availability is not confirmed.

The compact, two-wheeled BKE personal-mobility concept.
The compact, two-wheeled BKE personal-mobility concept. Photo: Toyota.

The broader experiment includes the SxS, a side-by-side concept with a turbocharged hybrid powertrain producing more than 300 horsepower, and the compact, two-wheeled BKE personal-mobility concept.

KEI-01, BKE and SxS show the range of Scion by Toyota’s new mission.
KEI-01, BKE and SxS show the range of Scion by Toyota’s new mission. Photo: Toyota.

The original Scion wanted to change what younger buyers drove. This version is exploring what counts as transportation in the first place. Parking should be considerably easier.

Read Toyota’s full release. Photos: Toyota.