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Toyota is bringing back Scion as “Scion by Toyota,” a mobility initiative whose first planned production vehicle is the KEI-01 mini truck. Toyota says the truck is intended for a low-volume U.S. fleet pilot beginning in late 2027; broader sales, retail availability and a left-hand-drive version have not been confirmed.
Toyota is reviving Scion as “Scion by Toyota” and plans to use the name for a U.S. fleet pilot of the KEI-01, a small kei truck. Toyota says the low-volume program is scheduled to start in late 2027; the announcement does not establish that the truck will be sold to individual buyers through dealerships.
Toyota describes Scion as a “freedom lab” for exploring mobility through vehicle designs, concepts and features. The KEI-01 is the first vehicle in the new lineup described as planned for production. The Autopian reports that Toyota will use its existing manufacturing infrastructure in Indiana, while the vehicle itself is based on the Daihatsu Hijet Jumbo Cab, also sold as the Toyota Pixis.
According to the report, the truck has a 660cc engine and CVT, four-wheel drive, and a cargo bed that folds down on three sides. Its stated payload is 600 pounds, including passengers and cargo. The report gives approximate dimensions of five feet wide and 11 feet long, and says heating and air conditioning are standard.
The KEI-01 is certified to U.S. low-speed vehicle safety standards, the report says. That classification limits its top speed to less than 25 mph and generally restricts it to roads posted below 35 mph. Those limits point to work and fleet applications, rather than ordinary highway commuting. The report says Toyota is initially targeting fleet use and that expansion could depend on the pilot’s performance and owner feedback.
A Toyota-Backed Mini Truck Pilot
The announcement puts a major automaker’s name behind a kei-style work vehicle for the U.S. market, but the proposed use is narrow. Low-speed operation rules out many regular trips, while the truck’s compact size, four-wheel drive and cargo bed could suit farms, warehouses and restricted urban routes.
Toyota’s involvement could give fleet operators a direct manufacturer program rather than requiring them to buy through independent mini-truck distributors. However, the pilot is described as low-volume and fleet-focused. It does not yet amount to a broad consumer launch, and the eventual price, service arrangements and number of vehicles have not been disclosed.
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Scion’s Return Takes a New Form
Toyota launched Scion in 2003 as a marque aimed at younger buyers, offering models including the tC and xB. The Autopian reports that Scion sales peaked in 2006 before falling substantially, and that Toyota retired the brand in 2016. The current announcement revives the name roughly a decade later, but changes its role from a passenger-car brand to a platform for mobility projects.
The KEI-01 is not the only vehicle shown with the revived label. The report also describes the SxS Concept, a side-by-side off-road vehicle previously shown at the 2025 SEMA Show, and the BXE Concept, a compact outdoor mobility concept. The SxS remains a concept with no public-sale plan reported; the BXE is also presented as a concept, not a confirmed production vehicle.
““Initially, the KEI 01 is only going to be available in a low-volume, niche pilot program entirely focused on fleet usage beginning in late 2027.””
— The Autopian, describing Toyota’s planned KEI-01 program
Retail Sales and Specifications Remain Open
Toyota has not announced pricing, fleet quantities, ordering details or participating locations in the source material. It is also unclear whether the KEI-01 will be offered to private buyers after the pilot, or whether Toyota will expand the program at all.
The initial images reportedly show a right-hand-drive vehicle, and no left-hand-drive version has been confirmed. The report identifies the model’s low-speed classification and general road restrictions, but further details about certification, operating conditions and market availability may be needed before fleets can assess its use. Toyota’s announcement also does not establish that the concept vehicles will enter production.
Fleet Pilot Is the Next Milestone
The next stated milestone is the KEI-01’s planned late-2027 fleet pilot. Toyota has indicated that wider availability could be considered based on the pilot’s performance and owner feedback, but has not set criteria or a decision date.
Until Toyota releases further details, fleet operators and prospective buyers will have to wait for information on price, quantities, sales channels, vehicle configuration and service support. The SxS and BXE concepts remain separate projects, with no confirmed public launch described in the report.
Key Questions
Is Scion returning as a regular car brand?
Toyota is reviving the name as Scion by Toyota, which it describes as a mobility “freedom lab.” The announcement, as reported, does not describe a conventional lineup of passenger cars.
Can individual buyers purchase the KEI-01?
That has not been confirmed. The initial program is described as a low-volume pilot for fleets, planned to begin in late 2027.
How fast can the KEI-01 go, and where can it be driven?
The report says the truck is certified as a low-speed vehicle, with a top speed below 25 mph, and is generally limited to roads with posted speed limits below 35 mph. Local requirements may also apply.
Will the KEI-01 be left-hand drive?
The initial images reportedly show a right-hand-drive truck. Toyota has not confirmed a left-hand-drive version.
Are the SxS and BXE concepts going on sale?
No public-sale plans are confirmed in the report. The SxS is described as a concept, and the BXE is also presented as a concept rather than a production model.
Source: theautopian.com
