Toyota to bring mini trucks to US market
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WASHINGTON, Nov 10 : Toyota Motor said on Tuesday it will bring its ultra-compact mini KEI trucks to the US market for fleet customers starting in the second half of 2027 as part of a limited rollout after President Donald Trump encouraged the move.
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. The KEI-01, which has a 660 cc three-cylinder engine and four-wheel drive, will be assembled at Toyota's plant in Indiana.
Toyota will add 50 jobs and invest $34 million in the project. 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 initial distribution will focus on fleet customers rather than retail sales. Toyota also said it is relaunching its Scion in the US.
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Trump wanted kei cars in the United States but has said he wants them to be assembled domestically.
Toyota said it may consider expanding availability to limited retail sales at a later date.
Toyota said the kei trucks could be used by small business owners, delivery fleets, farmers and ranchers as well as cities, universities and corporate campuses.
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