Scion lived a short life, the victim of bad financial timing and millennia-old misunderstandings. But its parent company, Toyota, is about to give the brand another chance – and its market research seems spot on this time around, as the Japanese automaker announces a new three-cylinder. Keï truck for the American market.
Officially known as the Scion Kei-01, the new model takes traditional Japanese compactness and adds North American levels of capability. The heart of the Kei-01 is a 660cc three-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable transmission and proper four-wheel drive with push-button locking. Measuring 11 feet long and five feet wide, the Keï The truck will be even smaller than a modern Mini Cooper.
The Kei-01 will be right-hand drive, have a top speed of 25 miles per hour and is intended to comply with federal safety requirements for low-speed vehicles. An easily accessible three-way folding cargo bed, a 600-pound payload capacity, and an extended cab with a raised roofline were included specifically for the North American market. Scion has not revealed power figures for the Kei-01, but Toyota has confirmed the Keï the truck will be available in the American market.
Initially, the Kei-01 will arrive in the United States as part of a vehicle fleet pilot program. Scion said this again Keï the truck will be an intentionally low-volume niche vehicle for specific types of fleets; it targets small business owners looking for an affordable urban utility vehicle, farmers needing a reliable daily work tool, and municipalities, universities and corporate campuses looking for efficient fleet vehicles. Last mile delivery services and outdoor enthusiasts are also targeted by Toyota. Fleet sales will go through select Toyota dealerships and the truck will be produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana in the second half of 2027.
However, Toyota says it is open to greater availability of the small pickup. “Depending 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,” the automaker said.
Two additional Scion concept vehicles were showcased alongside the Kei-01 at Toyota Motor North America events in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, and Frisco, Texas, on Tuesday, November 10. The Scion SxS concept takes on off-roading with a side-by-side chassis and a high-output turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid powertrain. The off-road model will feature more than 300 horsepower, significant suspension articulation and a nimble footprint; there will even be a silent mode that transfers motive power to the electric drivetrain.
Additionally, Scion is introducing the BKE concept, a new type of mobility tool for the revived auto brand. Featuring just two wheels, the BKE Concept is a personal mobility scooter designed for the great outdoors. Scion hasn’t provided any further details on the BKE concept, but it appears to be a comfortable urban vehicle.
Whatever the new Scion’s ultimate plans are Keï trucks and concept vehicles, the return of the fun brand is worth celebrating. Toyota has focused on car enthusiasts with its Gazoo Racing and off-road models, and Scion offers another opportunity to attract enthusiasts. But instead of focusing exclusively on younger buyers, Scion will be a “freedom laboratory” for Toyota, focused on experimentation.
“The future of mobility will not be defined by a single vehicle, a single technology or a single way of thinking,” said Simon Humphries, chief brand officer and head of design at Toyota Motor Corporation. “Scion by Toyota allows us to challenge conventional thinking, explore new possibilities and create mobility in new ways. The KEI-01, SxS and BKE concepts each represent a different possibility and together they show what can happen when curiosity leads the way.”
A New York native and Pacific Northwest native, Emmet White has a passion for all things: cars, bikes, planes, and motorcycles. After learning to drive at age 17, Emmet worked in the motorcycle industry before joining Autoweek in 2022 and Road & Track in 2024. The woes of alternative side parking have kept his fleet moderate, with a 2014 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and a BMW 318i E30 parked on the street in his Queens community.
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