Scion Is Back, and It’s Bringing a Right-Hand Drive 3-Cylinder Kei Truck to the U.S. Market

Live updates

1. 2h ago

   Toyota revives Scion brand to sell right-hand-drive Kei trucks in the U.S. starting in 2027

   Toyota is resurrecting the Scion nameplate as Scion by Toyota to introduce a right-hand-drive three-cylinder Kei truck to the U.S. market. The vehicle, called the KEI-01, will reach American roads in 2027 and will be assembled at Toyota’s plant in Princeton, Indiana. Toyota’s official announcement confirms the launch, while Wall Street Journal and Reuters separately report the mini-truck plans. Scion was previously discontinued in 2016 after weak sales. The move targets enthusiasts who currently import used Japanese minitrucks. Pricing and exact specifications remain undisclosed. Production timing and regulatory compliance details are still pending.

   Why it matters

   Scion was launched by Toyota in 2003 to attract younger buyers but was shut down in 2016 after sales failed to meet expectations. Kei trucks are small Japanese commercial vehicles governed by strict domestic size and engine rules, and most examples in the U.S. today are decades-old used imports. Toyota’s decision to build a new right-hand-drive model domestically signals a bet on a niche but devoted following for tiny trucks. The Princeton assembly plant will handle production, marking the brand’s first U.S. vehicle assembly under the revived nameplate.

   What is confirmed

   • Toyota is reviving the Scion brand as Scion by Toyota and will sell the KEI-01 Kei truck in the United States, with sales starting in 2027.
   • The KEI-01 is a right-hand-drive vehicle powered by a three-cylinder engine.
   • Assembly of the new vehicle will take place at Toyota’s Princeton, Indiana plant.
   • Scion was originally introduced in 2003 and discontinued in 2016.

   Still unconfirmed

   • Pricing for the KEI-01 has not been disclosed by Toyota.
   • Whether the truck will meet all U.S. safety and emissions standards without modification remains unconfirmed.

   What to watch next

   • Toyota’s release of official pricing and trim details for the KEI-01 before 2027
   • Confirmation that the Princeton assembly line is tooled for Kei-truck production
   • EPA and NHTSA certification of the right-hand-drive three-cylinder model for U.S. sale
   Sources used for this update (7)

   1. WSJ — Toyota’s Scion Brand Returns With Japan’s Forbidden-Fruit Minitrucks
   2. Reuters — Toyota to bring mini trucks to US market
   3. Toyota USA Newsroom — Toyota Says ‘Okei’ to America: Introducing the Scion by Toyota Brand and KEI-01
   4. Car and Driver — Toyota Revives the Scion Name on a Kei Truck That Will Reach U.S. Roads in 2027
   5. Road & Track — Scion Is Back, and It’s Bringing a Right-Hand Drive 3-Cylinder Kei Truck to the U.S. Market
   6. Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW) — Toyota brand to bring assembly of new vehicle to Princeton
   7. The New York Times — Toyota Sees a U.S. Future for Tiny Trucks With a Devoted Following
   confidence 50%