Toyota plans Indiana production of Scion KEI01 truck

Toyota plans to build its Scion KEI01 ultracompact truck at an Indiana plant, with production expected to start in the second half of 2027. The company says the project will involve a $34 million investment and create about 50 jobs. The truck will be Scion’s first vehicle under the revived brand name in the United States.

Toyota says the KEI01 will be classified as a low-speed vehicle under U.S. requirements, with a maximum speed of 25 mph, or 40 km/h. The four-wheel-drive truck will use a 660 cc three-cylinder engine. It measures just over 11 feet long and under 5 feet wide, according to the company’s specifications reported in coverage of the announcement.

The initial rollout is aimed at commercial or fleet customers rather than the mainstream retail market. Toyota may consider limited retail sales later, but has not laid out final terms for buyer eligibility or dealer availability. One report said the commercial channel would initially be limited to buyers purchasing at least 10 vehicles; other descriptions characterized the launch more generally as fleet-focused.

Toyota has not announced a price or a planned production volume. The company has described potential customers as...