When Toyota first introduced the Scion marque in 2003, it had one primary goal – sell cars to the younger generation. Its cars were cheaper and available in fun colors with fun names like “High Voltage Yellow” and “xPRESSO.” When I was a kid in the early 2000s, I often dreamed of one day owning a tC in Black Cherry Pearl and enjoyed lovingly calling xBs “toaster cars.” Over half of new Scions sold were to people under 35, and the tC boasted the youngest average buyer age in the entire industry at a sprightly 29. Their sales numbers peaked in 2006, but dropped nearly 75% by 2010. After sustained financial struggle, Toyota retired the marque in 2016. But now, a decade later, everyone’s favorite toaster brand is seemingly back.
Today, Toyota announced the official revival of Scion, but instead of being a quirky and budget-conscious line, they are becoming Toyota’s cornerstone of curiosity. Now called “Scion by Toyota,” it is being launched as a “freedom lab” where drivers can, and are encouraged to challenge conventional ways of thinking about mobility through design, vehicle concepts, and features.
“Okei,” let’s go.
Their first production vehicle is the KEI-01, an ultra-compact utility truck, otherwise known as a kei truck. Toyota will be using its existing manufacturing infrastructure in Indiana to “produce” them for sale in the American market. “Produce” is in quotation marks because the KEI-01 is quite literally a rebadged Toyota Pixis, which is a rebadged Daihatsu Hijet Jumbo Cab. Based on its initial imagery it is seemingly also still right-hand drive, and there’s no word on if a LHD variant will be available in the future.
With its friendly little 660cc engine and CVT transmission, the KEI-01 was certified to meet American low-speed vehicle safety standards, meaning it has a limited top speed of less than 25mph and is only legal on roads with a posted speed limit of less than 35mph. This makes it not really usable as a daily driver, but keeps it in this beautiful sweet spot where it has a shocking number of commercial and agricultural uses.
The KEI-01 has a 600-pound payload (which means cargo and passengers) and a three-way fold-down cargo bed, making it a well-equipped workhorse for use on farms and in warehouses. It’s only about 5 feet wide and 11 feet long, which makes it great for use as a delivery or work vehicle in dense, urban areas like New York City. Believe it or not, it also has 4WD, which means it can traverse uneven terrain in more rural areas with ease. And don’t worry if it’s hot outside, because heat and air conditioning are standard.
It’s worth noting that, while Kei trucks are currently sold new in the U.S. as “mini trucks” through independent distributors, this one is sold directly by Toyota. Before you rush to your local Toyota dealer to place a deposit, I’m going to have to burst your bubble a bit. 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. Depending on performance and owner feedback, availability of the KEI-01 may eventually be expanded, but no further information is available from Toyota at the time.
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The Hybrid Side-By-Side
Two other mobility concepts accompany the KEI-01 in the Scion by Toyota lineup, the SxS Concept and the BXE Concept.
The SxS Concept was unveiled at the 2025 SEMA Show as a purpose-built side-by-side all-terrain vehicle (click here for our coverage). Developed by Toyota North America, the off-road concept is outfitted with a turbocharged four-cylinder from the Tacoma making in the realm of 300hp. You won’t have to worry about your turbo spool scaring away local fauna, as it is equipped with a “Silent Mode,” which allows the driver to switch from the boisterous internal combustion system to a much more civilised fully electric driving mode. Unlike the KEI-01, the SxS Concept is still just that – a concept, with no current plans to have a version available to the public.
Last, but not least, is the BKE Concept. The BKE concept is entirely focused on personal mobility in the outdoors, filling the gap between the utility of the KEI-01 and the pure performance of the SxS Concept. Its small form factor and rugged tires make it an ideal off-roader for traversing narrow paths while being portable enough to stow away when not in use or easily tote around in the back of a car.
Top graphic image: Toyota
I’m not sure if anyone remembers but Daihatsu did sell speed-limited Hijets during their first stint in the US, alongside Mitsubishi (with the “Mighty Mits”), and I think Subaru may have sold a version of the Sambar as well (or did Suzuki try to sell a version of the Carry?), in both truck and van body styles. A Hijet van with the speed limiter removed and titled/used as a regular vehicle was the first ever vehicle to be featured on Pimp My Ride.
The Sambar was sold regularly alongside the 360, but I think they just called it the 360 truck/van.
Yep, I remember, I was really confused by that Pimp My Ride episode because I didn’t think they were street legal, but there one was, running around on the road in California, didn’t know how to process that at the time
I can feel in my fingers what those HVAC sliders feel like *weeps*
Genuinely curious though, I thought we had been told a big part of why touch controls were “necessary” was to keep costs down, yet here in what will likely be the cheapest new “car” sold and it has beautifully simple physical controls looking like they were time warped here from 1995.
I don’t think the 25mph speed governor would be really difficult to remove.
This ain’t the old days. The governor will probably be hard-coded into the ECU.
JDM ECU, problem solved
I know this site isn’t a fan of President Trump; but he did make a push for allowing the Kei trucks in the US back in December 2025. Now, here we are.
They were allowed in the US long before he ever said anything about it.
Limited production, fleet only, low speed vehicles isn’t what anyone had in mind. They were asking for the 25-year rule to be repealed and for DMVs and state legislatures to stop acquiescing to insurance advocacy groups
He made a comment and nothing changed, we’ve been able to get new Kei trucks as LSVs for years.
We need Kei Trucks we can drive on regular roads
This is what it comes down to. It’s neat that you can buy a new kei truck from a Toyota dealer, but it being an LSV and fleet sales-only makes it effectively useless for 99.9% of the population.
If you’re that desperate for a new Kei truck you can buy basically the same vehicle new at an independent dealer without worrying about the fleet sales aspect.
Nobody is stopping you from going out today and buying a brand new Suzuki Busy Badger.
This isn’t a street legal vehicle. It’s a low-speed ORV vehicle that won’t be useful to anyone who wants to use a mini-truck as an actual vehicle. Unclear what we have to thank Trump for…
I didn’t write the article boating about how this was a new thing. At the same time – it left out the part where Trump did say in December he wanted to see them produced (assembled) and sold here. There were many o experts then who all said it was “impossible” and “never going to happen”. Again, here we are. While not manufactured here – there are still folks in this country who will be employed to assemble and prepare them to be sold. So that’s always a plus.
The “many experts” were obviously saying that it was “impossible” and “never going to happen” in regards to street-legal mini truck production. Trump was obviously not speaking about what is essentially a golf-cart, and if he was, i’m unclear on how 25mph limited golf carts help Americans…
Daihatsu was selling kei trucks in the US under H. W. Bush
Saw elsewhere the BKE can fit in the trunk of a GR86. I was originally going to get a motocompacto for my Trackside/paddock scooter. However since I have sold my Type R and now have a GR Corolla, this not only looks better for my usage case, but also fits the branding.
oh how convenient for me if true! lol
I had had feeling they would do exactly that. They have made lhd keis in the past. I bet they will be for whatever they are doing in Indiana. The only problem I see is Toyota dealers. They need to find a way to make them behave. Hopefully some more keis come under the brand.
Why is the US Kei getting lower payload than typical Japan Kei?
Just checking the Suzuki Carry: they’re all rated at 350kg (700ish lb)
Good question
Likely to skirt around crash testing and fall under the FMVSS 500 rules. GVWR of 3000lbs is one of them. Same reason it will have a top speed of 25mph.
These things weigh less than a ton. There’s no need to drop the payload capacity from 770lb to 600lb to meet a 3000lb requirement.
I guess they subtracted the average difference between American and Japanese driver to keep the total chassis load same.
While I agree with avoiding FMVSS rules, keep in mind that payload ratings are also highly dependent on projected local conditions. That is why they are generally not comparable country to country. That is to say, even if Toyota imported a Hilux identical to the one it sells overseas, the payload rating in the US will likely change.
Especially since that 350kg payload is one of those “gentlemen’s agreement” situations where the actual capability is higher.
Not to mention the “63hp” engine output which wouldn’t need to be held in the US.
Because we don’t deserve nice things?
I want the BKE to be cheaper than a Motocompacto. That way I can tote a Scion in my Scion.
This it would look great with a high voltage yellow wrap in the back of my yellow tc
I wonder how they’ll choose dealerships to sell them? Ithaca, New York would be a great place to sell them…… speed limit city wide is 25mph, so it’ll be perfect for that city!
This caught my attention, but selling as a LSV means it’s not really offering anything new. I can already buy that. The SxS concept sounds kind of cool, but it’s just a concept (and probably way more than I’d want to pay for that kind of toy if they did decide to make it).
Might be interesting to see what they come up with later. I hope they are given the budget and freedom to bring some cool things to production.
Yeah, and Daihatsu already did that themselves with the HiJet back in the 90s, also, Chang’an Automobile set up a plant in Oklahoma to do minimal final assembly of their micro vans in order to meet government procurement rules for domestic production, which was under the Tiger Trucks name. I believe those are licensed Suzuki Carry variants
Scion exited the market in 2016, so I’m guessing it will be another 15 years before these will be available. 😉
Just saw this and I am AMAZED. How do we get the speed up?
Put it in neutral and let Karen push you from behind in her RAV4.
*Bow Chicka Wow Wow*
I loved both xB’s (06 and 04) and am midly curious about a Kei truck. I was happy until I saw the max 35mph speed.
If the KEI-01 could top out at 50mph I would run out and buy one. Fast enough for a highway, but not an interstate would be perfect. But it’s just too slow for surface roads around here. Going 25mph I’m sure some lifted Tahoe would flatten it (and me) and not even realize.
“Over half of new Scions sold were to people under 35”
The other half were sold to people over 65.
Or at least one at 41.
Well, the Xb and Xa were so easy to get in and out of, you know?
Exactly. Plus they were cheaper and smaller. Perfect for older folks with fixed incomes and parking fears. Heard this a ton when they were still sold from my buddies who worked at Toyota.
Is the BKE just a Toyota MotoCompo?
ToyoCompo! I rather like that.
Other than it being a hijet jumbo, not sure why I just wouldn’t buy a 2001 model year instead for 1/2 the price. It’s not like they’re going to have crazy good IIHS scores with the new model.
The MSRP for these in Japan is like $8K.
What would the ‘normal’ speed limit on a Kei trucklet be?
It’s not a golf cart, so penalizing it as such seems stupid.
In my state, you can buy a 49cc moped and ride that without a helmet on public roads WITHOUT A LICENSE.
Tell me again why can’t we have a Kei truck with seatbelts and airbag(s)? Safety concerns? Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight…
Saw an e-bike ripping down the street near the high school yesterday and thought the same thing. Weird laws, probably in league with manufacturers.
And I am a kei vehicle fan, but 600lbs for passengers and cargo probably doesn’t go as far as it does in Japan. That’s 2 dudes and maybe 1 crate of flowers.
Regulations haven’t kept up with e-bike/e-moto importers. Most actual e-bikes made by reputable manufacturers follow the class 1/2/3 ratings – max 750w and 20mph with throttle/pedals(2) or 28mph max with just pedals (3).
The issue is with the Amazon / direct to consumer companies selling either straight up e-motos that ignore regs, and/or “e-bikes” that are really e-motos with pedals tacked on and a limiter that’s easily defeated.
If that “e-bike” was going more than 28 mph it was someone illegally riding an off road motorcycle on the road.
My buddy had a supercharged one, and while not super happy at 70+mph Michigan highway speeds it did 60 without much trouble. The NA versions might struggle at 55-60 with any weight on board.
So yeah, this (like other kei trucks sold in the US in the past) is limited and geared to keep it off real roads, essentially.
In Japan, maybe 70 or 75mph for the higher performance, 2WD models with the right gearing and no load, and that’s flat out with the engine screaming at its limit. 55-65mph is probably more typical, especially for 4WD models. They can’t possibly pass FMVSS regulations to be sold as regular road vehicles, so fitting them with a 25mph governor and marketing them as low speed vehicles is the only way to sell them legally here that allows them to go onto public roads at all
At 100 km/h most JDM cars have a chime that kicks on, so presumably more than 100 km/h
You can buy a 49cc moped but they are limited to pedal bike speeds. 25 to 30 mph depending on state.
In South Cackalacky, mopeds are NOT limited to pedal bike speeds. 35mph is the maximum written into the moped statues, but I see these things on state highways all the time doing closer to 50.
I refer to them as ‘drunkcycles’ because mopeds become your only means of transportation available to you after your license got yanked for the 5th OUI.
South Carolina Highway Patrol says Mopeds are limited to 2 HP and 30 mph on level ground (machine limit) but may not be ridden faster than 25 mph (speed limit).
https://tinyurl.com/MopedandScooterLaws
Nice to see that they made a specific provision for drunks to still have wheels. (Wouldn’t be right to make them pedal)
I have no doubt you see people riding modified mopeds that exceed the legal limits. That happens everywhere due to lack of enforcements. (Same with e-bikes)
SxS are now the most common thing on trails and off road parks. Why bother making an FJ when you can sell more SxSs and not work about safety and road legality.
Disappointing, kei trucks serve a purpose but I was hoping there would also be a reborn subcompact xB that has more than 6 inches of crumple zone and can be used on real roads.
I’d love for all recreational ATVs, particularly side by sides to go all electric.
Realistically most users will delete the 25mph limit on this truck.
I’m curious what pricing will look like, but I’d be surprised if it’s gonna be under $25k.
Honestly, I think a great deal of its success will come down to the ease of limiter deletion.
Ag usage is going to want a higher top speed for back roads, commercial users are going to at least want to keep up with 30-35 mph city traffic, etc.
Unless this is implausibly cheap, I don’t get it. A SxS with cab does virtually everything better.
Depends on application. I see a lot of these KEI trucks in industrial facilities/factories. They are most common on the west coast, where they tend to be imported used from Japan. A SxS simply doesn’t fit down aisles and is impossible to turn around inside a building. Different story for a farm or ranch.
Interesting, when I worked in factories, the Taylor-Dunn carts were ubiquitous, but I could see a kei truck being useful in that application.
If they can sell them for $8K in Japan, they can sell them for $8K here too.
Well, gotta add that boat/truck/dealer/bs fee on it.
So 11k a truck.
I don’t know, there’s several companies importing new kei trucks under this regulation already, and defeating the governors doesn’t seem to be a widespread issue with them, any kei trucks I’ve seen on faster roads have all appeared to be older models imported as classic vehicles
I can’t wait until someone Hayabusa swaps one.
The 25mph rule needs to be changed for vehicles like this. Make it 30, or even 35. I guarantee it’s safer than a golf cart, so why does it have to meet the same standards?
Or do what my state does with mopeds, no speed cap, but they’re prohibited from certain highways regardless
Honestly makes more sense, not sure about the other states but here in WA sub 50cc scooters are prohibited from going on the freeway.
With us, 55cc is the cutoff for limited access highways, but they can go everywhere else, including 55mph surface highways. And there were some sub-55cc Japanese 2 strokes in the 70s and 80s that can actually.move along well enough at those speeds
I was excited until I read the article. I was hoping it would be LHD and be able to travel on 55mph roads. Oh well.
I bet it’ll be LHD.
From the get-go I bet it’ll stay RHD just to save development costs and if the pilot does well then they might bother with LHD then. Does any Kei-style vehicle come in LHD anywhere?
China
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_Truck
cute! thanks
The first USDM Hijets from the late 80s/early 90s were LHD
RHD might make more sense for the intended use in dense cities with low speed limits. Easier to parallel park in tight spaces when the driver can just look out the window.
Like so many things…. its about 75% there but not enough to make much sense. Come on. 25MPH limit? Its a golf cart. A very expensive golf cart. Would be so much easier if instead my home state would make it easier to just import regular Kei cars and trucks from Japan.
I could see it’s usefulness in places like College Campuses for grounds work, or large golf courses; as it’ll have more utility than a simple golf cart, but they probably already have something to do that like a little utility truck from Bombadier or something.
Still happy to see them doing something, and if I ever loose my mind and move to the middle of nowhere it’d be a strong contender along with a Roxor for patrolling the perimeter.
Cushman and other companies have sold rebadged kei trucks in the US for this purpose for a long time. Not sure what Toyota is bringing to the table here.
Chana does, too, with the same business model Toyota is using – screw them together in a US plant and sell them under a US-specific brand name
I assume you mean Chang’an.
Yeah, they dropped the Chana brand like a decade ago, but habits die hard, they use Tiger in the US
600 lbs payload including occupants is also rather puny for work use. Our smaller Club Cars manage that and most are rated for 800, to say nothing of a Cushman Truckster rated for a full ton.