Trump wanted little Kei trucks for America, Toyota makes it happen
· Automobile · Ars Technica, Financial Times
Toyota is bringing back the Scion brand as 'Scion by Toyota' to introduce the KEI-01, a low-speed vehicle based on Japan's Kei car platform, for the US market. The automaker cites the need to challenge conventional mobility thinking, with the KEI-01 classified as a low-speed vehicle under US regulations. Japan's Kei cars, which are limited to 11.2 feet long, 0.66 L engine displacement and 63 hp output, saw nearly 1.7 million sales in Japan last year out of 4.6 million total vehicles. US corporate average fuel economy standards have made smaller cars less profitable, creating demand for compact alternatives like the KEI-01.
Why it matters
This creates new affordable compact vehicle options for US consumers facing high fuel costs and limited parking, while potentially influencing Indian automotive preferences for smaller, efficient vehicles.
Read the original report — Ars Technica
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