Toyota Announces Launch of Scion by Toyota Brand in the U.S. and Unveils Low-Speed Pickup KEI-01

On November 9 local time, Toyota announced in the United States the launch of a new brand, Scion by Toyota. Scion is a sub-brand that Toyota created in 2002 and discontinued in 2016. The first model under Scion by Toyota is the KEI-01, a K-Car low-speed multifunction pickup. The vehicle complies with U.S. federal safety standards for low-speed vehicles and has a top speed of 25 mph. It measures slightly over 11 feet in length and under 5 feet in width, and is powered by a 660cc three-cylinder engine mated to a continuously variable transmission, with optional four-wheel drive as standard, and a cargo box payload of up to 600 pounds. The KEI-01 features a right-hand-drive design, an enclosed extended cabin with heating and air conditioning, a raised roof, seats that recline and slide, storage space behind the seats for tools and gear, and a three-way folding cargo bed. The KEI-01 will be assembled in the second half of 2027 at Toyota's Indiana manufacturing plant in the United States, with initial distribution mainly targeting fleet customers.