Key facts
- Toyota said the KEI-01 will be assembled at its Indiana plant, adding 50 jobs and $34 million of investment.
- Toyota said initial US distribution will focus on fleet customers rather than retail sales.
- Toyota said the KEI-01 has a 660 cc three-cylinder engine, four-wheel drive and a top speed of 25 mph.
- Toyota said it is relaunching its Scion brand in the US.
- Toyota said President Donald Trump encouraged the move and has said he wants kei cars assembled domestically.
Toyota Motor said on November 10, 2026, that it will bring its ultra-compact KEI-01 minitruck to the US market for fleet customers starting in the second half of 2027, in a limited rollout. The company said President Donald Trump encouraged the move.
The KEI-01 has a 660 cc three-cylinder engine and four-wheel drive and will be assembled at Toyota's plant in Indiana. Toyota said the project adds 50 jobs and $34 million of investment. The right-hand-drive trucks measure just over 11 feet (3.35 m) in length and under 5 feet in width, with a maximum speed of 25 miles per hour (40 kph).
Toyota said the vehicle is designed to comply with federal low-speed vehicle safety requirements and that initial distribution will focus on fleet customers rather than retail sales. The company said it may consider expanding availability to limited retail sales at a later date.
Toyota said the trucks could be used by small business owners, delivery fleets, farmers and ranchers as well as cities, universities and corporate campuses. It also said it is relaunching its Scion brand in the US.
A third of the 3.7 million new cars sold in Japan last year were mini, or "kei", cars, tiny vehicles that are not produced by American automakers. Trump has said he wants kei cars assembled domestically.