Scion Returns to America With a Road-legal Kei Truck
WHO:
Road & Track - Toyota is reviving Scion as a “freedom lab” for experimentation; the brand will focus on exploring mobility ideas rather than exclusively targeting young buyers.
Road & Track - Simon Humphries, Toyota Motor Corporation’s chief branding officer and head of design, said: “The future of mobility will not be defined by one vehicle, one technology or one way of thinking.”
The Drive - Toyota is bringing back Scion as a mobility division for testing ideas in on- and off-pavement transportation.
WHAT:
The Drive - Toyota identifies the KEI-01 as the Japanese-market Pixis.
The Drive - The KEI-01’s only configuration will be a two-door cab; it will have a low cargo-bed lift-over height, and heat and air conditioning will be standard.
The Drive - Toyota’s previously shown UTV concept debuted at the 2025 SEMA show; Toyota still appears to be considering production.
The Drive - The BKE folds in 30 seconds and can be recharged using a Toyota’s 110-volt outlet.
Road & Track - Toyota announced the Scion Kei-01, a U.S.-market kei truck with a 660cc three-cylinder engine, continuously variable transmission, and four-wheel drive with push-button lock-up. Toyota has not disclosed its power figures.
The Drive - The KEI-01 will be sold in limited volumes to fleets for an undisclosed price; its maximum speed is 25 mph.
Road & Track - The truck is about 11 feet long and five feet wide, has a 600-pound payload capacity, a three-way fold-down cargo bed, and an extended cabin with a raised roofline.
The Drive - The KEI-01 will have a two-door cab, and heat and air conditioning will be standard.
Road & Track - Toyota said the truck is intended to meet federal low-speed-vehicle safety requirements.
The Drive - Toyota said the KEI-01 is designed to comply with FMVSS No. 500; the article says its 25-mph speed limit is tied to those requirements.
Road & Track - Toyota is targeting small-business owners, farmers, municipalities, universities, corporate campuses, last-mile delivery services, and outdoor enthusiasts.
Road & Track - Toyota said: “Based on market conditions, customer demand, and operational considerations, Toyota may consider expanding availability to limited retail sales at a later date. Additional information and the broader sales strategy will be shared as plans are finalized.”
Road & Track - Toyota also showed the SxS Concept, an off-road side-by-side with a turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain, more than 300 horsepower, and a Silent Mode that uses electric drive.
Road & Track - The BKE Concept is a two-wheeled personal mobility scooter; the article describes it as intended for outdoor use.
The Drive - The BKE is described as a collapsible electric bike that folds in 30 seconds, fits in a Toyota GR 86’s trunk, and can recharge from a Toyota’s 110-volt outlet.
The Drive - Toyota previously showed a UTV concept with long-travel suspension and a turbocharged 2.4-liter hybrid powertrain from the Tacoma TRD Pro.
WHERE:
Road & Track - The KEI-01 is intended for the U.S. market and will be built at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana.
The Drive - Fleet sales will go through Toyota dealers selected from its current dealer network.
Road & Track - Toyota showed the concepts at Toyota Motor North America events in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, and Frisco, Texas.
WHEN:
Road & Track - Toyota plans to produce the truck in the second half of 2027.
The Drive - The KEI-01 is expected to arrive in the second half of 2027.
WHY:
The Drive - The BKE is intended to make short-distance mobility easier.
Road & Track - Toyota is pitching the truck as an affordable, efficient urban commercial vehicle and work vehicle for fleets.
The Drive - Toyota is targeting operators who need a miniature workhorse where space and efficiency are priorities.
HOW:
Road & Track - The initial U.S. launch will be a low-volume fleet pilot, with fleet sales routed through select Toyota dealerships.
The Drive - The KEI-01 will be right-hand-drive, including the version Toyota builds in Indiana for U.S. sale.
(UPDATED November 11, 2026 05:59 UTC)
Toyota is reviving Scion as an experimental mobility division, moving beyond its youthful image. Its first project, the KEI-01, is a compact work truck for U.S. fleets. Built in Indiana, the right-hand-drive truck is expected in late 2027, with limited sales.
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(UPDATED November 11, 2026 05:04 UTC)
Toyota is reviving Scion as a mobility lab, exploring transportation ideas beyond young buyers. Its first project, the KEI-01, is a compact, right-hand-drive truck for U.S. fleets. Built in Indiana, the low-speed work vehicle is expected in late 2027.