Toyota brand Scion is back and it's going to sell a kei truck in America

Toyota is reviving Scion as “Scion by Toyota,” not as the youth-focused, low-cost car brand that launched in 2003 and ended in 2016, but as a “freedom lab” for unconventional mobility ideas. Its first production model, the KEI-01, is a tiny utility truck derived from the Toyota Pixis and Daihatsu Hijet. Toyota plans to assemble it using its Indiana manufacturing infrastructure, although the pictured version appears to retain right-hand drive and no left-hand-drive option has been announced. Its 660cc engine and CVT are paired with low-speed-vehicle certification: it cannot exceed 25 mph and is restricted to roads posted below 35 mph, making it unsuitable for most commuting but potentially useful for work.

The roughly 5-foot-wide, 11-foot-long truck carries up to 600 pounds, has a three-way fold-down bed, four-wheel drive, and standard heating and air conditioning. Toyota will initially offer it only through a small fleet-focused pilot beginning in late 2027; broader availability depends on results and customer feedback. The revived brand also includes two concepts rather than confirmed retail vehicles: the SxS, an off-road side-by-side with a roughly 300-horsepower turbo engine and electric “Silent Mode,” and the portable, rugged-tired BKE, aimed at outdoor personal mobility. The lineup therefore marks Scion’s return through specialized utility and recreational vehicles, not a revival of its former mainstream car range.