Toyota Launches Scion by Toyota in the US; First Model KEI-01 Micro Truck Arrives in Late 2027
Toyota Motor North America announced on November 10 the launch of a new brand, Scion by Toyota, and its first vehicle, the KEI-01 ultra-compact utility truck. The brand was unveiled at simultaneous events held November 9 in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, and Frisco, Texas, and the KEI-01 is scheduled to arrive in the United States in the second half of 2027.
The KEI-01 is just over 11 feet long and under five feet wide. It is powered by a 660cc three-cylinder engine with a continuously variable transmission and standard selectable four-wheel drive, with an automatic mode and a push-button lock. As a low-speed vehicle complying with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 500, its top speed is 25 mph. The truck is right-hand drive, carries a payload of up to 600 pounds, and features a three-way fold-down cargo bed, an extended cabin, and heating and air conditioning.
The KEI-01 will be assembled at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana starting in the second half of 2027, backed by a $34 million investment and about 50 new jobs. Initial distribution will be a fleet-focused pilot through a small network of Scion by Toyota dealers selected from existing Toyota dealers, with limited retail sales possible later.
Also shown at the launch were the SxS Concept and the BKE Concept personal mobility vehicle. Simon Humphries, Chief Branding Officer and Head of Design at Toyota Motor Corporation, described Scion as a freedom lab where designers and engineers can explore unconventional products.
(Source: Toyota Motor North America)
Source: Toyota Motor North America
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：丰田印第安纳工厂正门，KEI-01 将自 2027 年下半年起在该厂组装。Wikimedia Commons 图片（Kmweber 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0）。 / Photo: Front entrance of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana, where the KEI-01 will be assembled from the second half of 2027. Image via Wikimedia Commons (Kmweber, CC BY-SA 3.0).
