Toyota Indiana to build revived Scion brand’s first vehicle, adding about 50 jobs in Princeton

Toyota’s plant in Princeton will build the first vehicle from the company’s revived Scion brand, a small utility truck called the KEI-01, starting in the second half of 2027.

Toyota Motor North America said the work comes with a $34 million investment at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Indiana that will add about 50 jobs. The money will set up new assembly operations and upgrade the plant’s production and logistics, according to the company.

Toyota introduced the new brand, called Scion by Toyota, on Tuesday.

The KEI-01 is based on Japan’s kei trucks, small work trucks common in Japan and some other Asian markets. It has a 660cc three-cylinder engine, a continuously variable transmission and four-wheel drive. The truck is just over 11 feet long and under 5 feet wide. It can carry up to 600 pounds in its bed and tow small trailers, Toyota said.

The steering wheel is on the right side, as in Japan, and the top speed is 25 mph. That puts it in the federal “low-speed vehicle” class, which limits where it can be driven on public roads.

Toyota is aiming the truck at small businesses, farmers, cities and towns, universities, corporate campuses and delivery companies. At first, it will be sold only to fleet buyers through a pilot program at a small number of Toyota dealers chosen to sell Scion. The company said it may offer limited retail sales later, depending on demand. Toyota has not announced a price.

“The future of mobility will not be defined by one vehicle, one technology or one way of thinking,” said Simon Humphries, Chief Branding Officer and Head of Design at Toyota Motor Corporation, in a news release. “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.”

Toyota also showed two concept vehicles under the Scion name. The SxS is an off-road side-by-side with a hybrid engine making more than 300 horsepower.