Toyota wants to sell tiny Japanese pickup trucks in America. Buyers will love the $9,000 price tag - but what about a top speed of only 25mph?

Toyota is betting that inflation-weary American buyers are ready to embrace an inexpensive, pint-sized Japanese truck that looks like a golf cart with a cargo bed.The automaker has announced plans to bring its ultra-compact Kei-01 truck to the US in the second half of 2027, with production taking place at its Indiana factory.But there's one big catch for anyone dreaming of using one as their daily runaround: the tiny truck has a top speed of just 25 mph.Initially, Toyota will target commercial fleets rather than individual buyers, with potential customers including farmers, ranchers, delivery companies, universities and municipal authorities.The move follows repeated calls from President Donald Trump, who became an enthusiastic fan of Japan's famously small vehicles after visiting the country in 2025.And Toyota is putting some serious money behind the idea, pledging $34 million to the project and promising to create 50 jobs at its Indiana plant.The KEI-01 measures just over 11 feet long and less than five feet wide, making it a fraction of the size of the hulking Ford F-150s and Ram pickups that dominate American roads.Under the seats is a 660cc three-cylinder engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission and four-wheel drive. Toyota has announced plans to bring its ultra-compact Kei-01 truck to the US in the second half of 2027, with production taking place at its Indiana factory The KEI-01 is powered by a 660cc three-cylinder engine mounted beneath the seats, paired with a continuously variable transmission and four-wheel driveIt also has a surprisingly practical side, with a cargo bed capable of carrying up to 600 pounds and a cabin featuring heating and air conditioning.Toyota says the vehicle is designed to meet federal safety requirements for low-speed vehicles, allowing it to be used on public roads where permitted.However, its 25 mph speed limit means it will not be suitable for highways or most longer commutes.Instead, the Japanese import is being pitched as a workhorse for shorter journeys around farms, industrial sites, college campuses and city centers.It will also come with a right-hand-drive steering wheel, a feature that could take some getting used to for American motorists.The announcement also marks the return of Scion, Toyota's youth-focused brand that was discontinued in 2016 after struggling to maintain momentum.This time, however, Scion is being reinvented as 'Scion by Toyota,' a space for the automaker to experiment with unconventional vehicles and new mobility ideas.The launch comes as American drivers face increasingly eye-watering prices for new vehicles.The average transaction price for a new car hit a record $51,109 in October, according to Kelley Blue Book figures, while pickups averaged $67,912.With affordable options disappearing from dealership lots, Toyota is hoping its miniature truck can appeal to buyers who simply do not need a giant vehicle. It also has a surprisingly practical side, with a cargo bed capable of carrying up to 600 pounds The KEI-01 measures just over 11 feet long and less than five feet wide, with a cabin featuring heating and air conditioningKei vehicles, short for the Japanese term keijidosha, meaning light automobile, have been a fixture of life in Japan for decades.They accounted for around a third of the country's 3.7 million new car sales last year, thanks to their compact dimensions, practicality and relatively low running costs.Trump has also been unusually vocal about wanting the vehicles to make their way across the Pacific.After his 2025 visit to Japan, he praised the tiny cars on Truth Social, declaring: 'These cars of the very near future are inexpensive, safe, fuel efficient and, quite simply, AMAZING!!!'He also insisted that they should be built in America rather than simply imported, something Toyota's Indiana production plans appear to address.Toyota has not yet announced a US price, although the Japanese-market Daihatsu Hijet Jumbo on which the truck is based sells for around $9,000.The announcement has already sparked plenty of debate among car enthusiasts on Reddit, where some welcomed the idea of bringing smaller, more practical vehicles to American roads.One commenter joked that reviving Scion as a work-focused brand was an unexpected twist, while another suggested the concept could appeal to people who already own a full-size car but need something smaller for getting around their property.Others were less convinced, with one writing: 'Top speed of 25mph makes this not a viable road car.'Whether America's pickup-loving drivers will embrace a truck that cannot even reach highway speeds remains to be seen, but Toyota is clearly hoping there is a market for thinking small.