Home · Technology · Nov 11 archive
Toyota to Assemble Tiny Pickup Truck in U.S. Starting 2027
Confirmed
In Short: Toyota announced Tuesday plans to assemble the Kei-01, a tiny pickup truck, at its Indiana plant starting in the second half of 2027.
Toyota introducing a new small truck for the U.S. market - say hello to the KEI-01. WFAA
Toyota announced Tuesday plans to assemble the Kei-01, a tiny pickup truck, at its Indiana plant starting in the second half of 2027. The vehicle will be assembled using Toyota's IMV 0 platform, which was first revealed in 2022.
The Kei-01 will initially be reserved for commercial fleets and will be sold through select Toyota dealers. Toyota plans to invest $34 million in production, creating around 50 new jobs.
The Kei-01, which has a 660cc engine and a top speed of 25 mph, will be the first Toyota vehicle to revive the Scion brand, which was discontinued in 2016.
Toyota claims the truck will have updated safety features, including modern seatbelts, and will be eligible to drive in all 50 states.
The Kei-01 is part of a trend of automakers offering smaller, more affordable alternatives to the current large and expensive pickup trucks. Ford, for example, plans to build its sub-$30,000 Fathom EV.
Toyota's IMV 0/Hilux, which is not available in the U.S., has an estimated MSRP of around $10,000 in Thailand, and is known for its utility and affordability.
While Toyota has not released pricing figures for the American market, the company has emphasized the truck's affordability and utility.
What this adds
Toyota's decision to revive the Scion brand with the Kei-01 reflects a shift in the market towards smaller, more affordable vehicles.
What's confirmed
- On Tuesday, Toyota announced plans to assemble a tiny pickup, the Kei-01, at its Indiana plant in the second half of 2027.
What's still developing
- Pickup trucks were the most expensive category, with an average price of $67,912.
- Announced in 2002 as Toyota’s “Global Quality Project,” the platform officially launched in Thailand in 2004 and has since expanded to more than 180 countries worldwide.
- Designed as a low-cost, small, and deliberately basic work truck, the IMV 0 (later launched as the Hilux Champ ) was first revealed to the public in December 2022 at Toyota Motor Thailand’s 60th Anniversary event as a concept.
- Let's delve into what is known as 'the $10,000 Toyota truck' since it's launch just a few short years ago.
- In 2021, Toyota began developing a new, more affordable model within the IMV family: the IMV 0.
- A redesigned 2026 Toyota Hilux midsize pickup has been revealed with electric, diesel, and fuel cell options.
- The Toyota IMV 0 scoffs in the face of luxury and goes all in on utility, showing many late-model trucks like the Toyota Tacoma how to be useful and affordable.
- Although the Toyota IMV 0 is not available in the USA, it still draws the attention of many Americans looking for a no-frills, affordable work truck.
- At last year’s SEMA show, Toyota showed a Scion-branded off-road side-by-side concept called the Scion 1 SXS.
- BANGKOK (AP) — An 11-year-old driver crashed a truck into Buddhist monks on a pilgrimage walk in northeastern Thailand on Thursday, killing 10 of them and injuring others, officials said.
- People ride in a pickup truck during a funeral procession for a Houthi officer in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, Oct.
- Wichita police awaiting toxicology results and mechanical exam of pickup truck driven by the 34-year-old woman Wichita police awaiting toxicology results and mechanical exam of pickup truck driven by the 34-year-old woman A woman who was arrested on Saturday after she drove a truck through a youth soccer game in Wichita, Kansas – killing a boy and a man – has been released from custody without charges pending further investigation, according to authorities.
Sources
- Business Insiderlink
- CarBuzzlink
- Gizmodolink
- MotorTrendlink
- Quartz Indialink
- TechSpotlink
- AP Newslink
- Dailycorinthianlink
- The Guardianlink
- Ars Technicalink
- Tdtnewslink
- Nbcdfwlink
- Peoplelink
- Trtworldlink
- Cleantechnicalink
- Katulink
- WFAA — video link
- DPCcars — video link
- HeyDay News — video link
- KVUE — video link
- The Wheel Network — video link