Toyota's KEI-01 Brings Small U.S.-Built Truck

Owners and buyers of small utility vehicles can expect a domestically assembled kei truck with a 600-pound cargo bed, starting with fleet sales in 2027.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Trucks

Compact boxy utility pickup with a short open cargo bed parked beside a low industrial building under a wide pale sky over flat farmland. — Toyota will begin selling its domestically built KEI-01 kei truck through fleet programs in 2027, with its Princeton, Indiana plant set to start production in mid 2027. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Would you consider buying a small, low-speed kei truck for everyday use?

Toyota relaunched the Scion brand as "Scion by Toyota" with the KEI-01, a small kei truck built in the U.S. at its Princeton, Indiana plant. It will first be sold through a fleet-focused trial program starting in 2027, with limited retail sales possible if demand is strong.

Why it matters

Kei trucks are currently imported from Japan, and Toyota is building one domestically to meet that demand. For households looking for a small, low-cost work or utility vehicle, a U.S.-built option could change availability and pricing once retail sales begin.

The KEI-01 has a 660-cc three-cylinder engine, weighs less than 2,000 pounds, and is limited to 25 mph, with a cargo bed that hauls up to 600 pounds. It measures just over 11 feet long and less than five feet wide, and it meets federal low-speed vehicle safety requirements.

The players

Toyota

Japanese automaker known for its mainstream trucks, SUVs, and sedans, now reviving the Scion name under a new "Scion by Toyota" brand.

Daihatsu

Japanese small-vehicle maker whose Hijet Jumbo serves as the basis for the KEI-01.

The details

The KEI-01 is a rebadged Daihatsu Hijet Jumbo that uses a continuously variable automatic transmission. It has all-wheel drive, where a hydromechanical clutch automatically shifts power between the front and rear wheels based on traction needs. Standard comfort features include air conditioning, reclining seats, and push-button ignition. Toyota will assemble the truck at its Princeton, Indiana plant, with production slated to begin in mid 2027.

2027: Fleet-focused trial program sales of the KEI-01 begin.
Mid 2027: KEI-01 production is slated to begin.

The Home Front

Kei trucks sold in the U.S. have so far been imported from Japan, where the Daihatsu Hijet Jumbo is a common model. Building a rebadged version domestically places this vehicle within a small but growing segment of compact, low-speed utility trucks for households and small businesses.

If you need a small utility vehicle for hauling light loads around town or a property, the KEI-01 is worth watching once sales begin. Before buying any kei truck, confirm local low-speed vehicle registration rules, since the KEI-01 is limited to 25 mph.

The takeaway

A U.S.-built kei truck could give small-vehicle buyers a domestic option instead of importing from Japan. Check your state's low-speed vehicle rules and the 600-pound cargo limit before considering one for work use.

What happens next

The KEI-01 fleet-focused trial program begins in 2027, with production slated to start in mid 2027; limited retail sales could follow if demand is strong.