Trump wanted little Kei trucks for America, Toyota makes it happen

“The future of mobility will not be defined by one vehicle, one technology, or one way of thinking,” said Simon Humphries, Toyota’s chief branding officer and head of design. “Scion by Toyota gives us a place to challenge conventional thinking, explore new possibilities, and create mobility in new ways. The KEI-01, SxS, and BKE concepts each represent a different possibility—and together, they show what can happen when curiosity leads the way.”

Before anyone gets too excited, the KEI-01 will be classified as a “low-speed vehicle,” which means it can’t go any faster than 25 mph (40 km/h). So if you were hoping to use one of these but need to drive on anything but surface streets, be prepared to get honked at a lot, and not in a good way. In fact, unless you’re buying a fleet, Toyota won’t sell you a KEI-01 at all, at least not to begin with.

Oh, and it’s only available as right-hand drive, since that’s the side of the road Japan drives on. But it does feature all-wheel drive, so if you own a ranch—or perhaps a whole load of golf courses—the utility becomes a little more obvious. Toyota says the KEI-01 is suited to small business owners in urban environments, farmers and ranchers, organizations that have campuses that need fleets of facility vehicles, delivery drivers, and outdoor enthusiasts. The trucks will be shipped to Toyota’s assembly plant in Indiana as knock-down kits, adding 50 jobs to the plant in mid-2027.

Low-speed vehicles have been street-legal in parts of the US for many years now. In my neighborhood in Washington, DC, Circuit operates a low-speed EV shuttle on demand, and gas-powered golf carts are very popular in retirement communities. Pricing for the KEI-01 hasn’t been announced, but speculation runs from as little as $10,000 to as much as $28,000.