Donald Trump wants tiny trucks to make buying new cars cheaper. Can Toyota’s 25 MPH pickup deliver?

President Donald Trump saw tiny vehicles in Asia and wondered how they might do in America. Toyota is about to test a narrow version of that idea. Its Scion KEI-01 is just over 11 feet long and can haul up to 600 pounds in its bed. It also tops out at 25 mph. A grounds crew could use it to move tools across a campus. A driver who needs to get on the interstate would still need another vehicle.

Why does Donald Trump think tiny trucks could lower car costs?

Trump’s pitch was simple: Smaller vehicles could give buyers who are priced out of the new-car market another option, according to a report by USA Today. He made the case in December 2025 while announcing a proposal to ease federal fuel economy rules. He compared the small cars he’d seen in Asia with the old Volkswagen Beetle and said he had directed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to clear the way for production.

The appeal is easy to see in the October 2026 numbers. The average new-car price was $52,369, according to data cited by USA Today. Cox Automotive put the average price of a full-size pickup at $67,912. A buyer who only needs to carry tools around a property may have little reason to pay for a truck built to tow a heavy trailer. Toyota, however, hasn’t announced what the KEI-01 will cost.

What is a kei truck, and what is Toyota bringing to America?

Kei trucks belong to a Japanese class of very small vehicles. They squeeze a usable cargo bed into a footprint that makes sense on narrow roads. Toyota is bringing back its Scion name for an American model inspired by those trucks.

The KEI-01 is less than five feet wide and has a 660 cc engine. It comes with four-wheel drive and an automatic transmission. Toyota plans to begin assembly in Princeton, Indiana, in the second half of 2027. The company says it will invest $34 million and add about 50 jobs.

Can Toyota’s tiny truck replace a regular pickup?

For some work on farms or large properties, it could. For a highway commute, it can’t. Toyota designed the KEI-01 to meet existing federal standards for low-speed vehicles. Under those standards, its top speed is 25 mph. Where it can legally travel on public roads depends on state and local rules.

Toyota will start with fleet buyers through a small group of dealers. It may consider limited retail sales later. Even if the price comes in well below that of a full-size pickup, the first customers will be buying a vehicle for specific jobs. The bigger question behind Trump’s pitch is whether automakers will also bring out cheaper small vehicles that can handle an ordinary commute.

FAQs

When will Toyota’s tiny truck arrive in the U.S.?

Toyota expects the KEI-01 to arrive in the second half of 2027.

How much will the Scion KEI-01 cost?

Toyota hasn’t announced a price.