We begin with the Side-by-Side Concept, an off-road buggy that first appeared as the Scion 01 Concept at the 2025 SEMA Show. Resonating strongly with show visitors, it has since undergone extensive testing, including evaluation by professional drivers.

Chief Engineer Don Federico explained how the vehicle has continued to evolve: "Through our own testing, and by gathering feedback from professional drivers, including our own Master Driver, Akio Toyoda, we have continued to refine the concept in the spirit of Akio's call to drive, break, fix, and learn." 

As Federico described it, the development team focused on two key principles from the outset: "exhilarating confidence."

About a month and a half ago, Akio Toyoda was inducted into the Automotive Hall of Fame in the United States. During his speech, he mentioned being involved in an incident just days before while driving an off-road vehicle. As it turns out, the vehicle in question was the Side-by-Side Concept. 

This shows how relentlessly the team continued refining the vehicle right up to the final stages of development.

The Side-by-Side Concept uses the hybrid Tacoma powertrain, delivering what Federico called the kind of immediate, powerful response expected from a serious off-road machine. 

To ensure that capability goes beyond specs, the concept features:

• 26 inches (660 mm) of suspension travel
• 35-inch (889 mm) tires
• 17 inches (432 mm) of ground clearance

All are class-leading figures, designed with a simple goal: making sure the capability is real. 

The vehicle is intended to tackle everything from high-speed desert racing and demanding trail runs to technical rock-crawling sections. Yet one of its most intriguing features is something only an electrified vehicle can offer: Silent Mode.

"It allows the vehicle to navigate trails on battery power alone. which creates a new way to engage with nature. One that is quieter, and more immersive. It's a great example of how electrified technology can expand the experience of adventure." 

As a concept vehicle, Toyota intends to continue learning from it while exploring what the future of off-road mobility might look like. The lessons gained here are also expected to influence future truck development.

The BKE Concept is a foldable electric bike designed to extend outdoor mobility beyond where conventional vehicles can go.

Federico described its origin as a response to a very practical question: "How to make short-distance mobility easier, more useful, and more seamlessly integrated into everyday life."

The lightweight vehicle was developed over several years by a small team of chassis and electrical engineers who continually refined the design based on real-world testing and customer feedback. 

The current version can be folded in approximately 30 seconds and is so compact that it can fit in the trunk of a GR86 sports car. 

Electric bikes may already be familiar to Toyota fans. Chairman Toyoda drew attention on social media when he used a similar mobility device around the 2025 Japan Mobility Show venue. The BKE Concept, however, takes portability and practicality even further. 

The bike can be charged using the 110V AC outlets already available on many Toyota vehicles, making it convenient for camping, errands, last-mile transportation, or even serving as a pit bike alongside a GR86. 

Beyond convenience, the concept reflects Toyota's broader sustainability ambitions.
"For short trips it offers a practical alternative to larger vehicles, helping reduce carbon emissions by matching the vehicle to the journey."

Federico linked it directly to Toyota's long-standing goal: "To think beyond the conventional automobile and define mobility in a broader way."

One particularly Toyota-like detail emerged during development. Federico recalled that feedback from Toyoda, who frequently rides prototype versions, led engineers to enlarge the rear fender after he noted that the original design allowed water to splash onto riders when going through puddles. A small improvement, perhaps, but a fitting example of Toyota's spirit of continuous improvement, or kaizen. 

Though vastly different from the Side-by-Side Concept, Federico emphasized that both vehicles share the same purpose: "To expand the meaning of mobility."

Together they offer an early glimpse of how Scion by Toyota can approach mobility from multiple directions while remaining rooted in Toyota's core strengths.

The mobility solution to reach customers first under Scion by Toyota is the KEI-01. 

Inspired by Japan's iconic kei trucks, the vehicle features:

• A 660 cc three-cylinder engine
• Automatic transmission
• Four-wheel drive
• Length of just over 11 feet (approximately 3.35 m)
• Width under 5 feet (approximately 1.52 m)
• Payload of up to 600 pounds (approximately 272 kg)

It will be assembled at Toyota's Indiana plant, supported by a $34 million investment and approximately 50 new jobs.
While kei trucks have long been valued in Japan for their maneuverability and practicality, they are still relatively uncommon in the United States, where full-sized pickup trucks dominate the landscape.

David Christ, Group Vice President and General Manager of the Toyota Division introduced the vehicle this way: "Let's talk about a small truck with some big possibilities." 
Pointing to rising interest in kei trucks, he explained: "The love for Kei trucks has really taken off and it got us thinking... what could our take on this segment look like?"

For Christ, the vehicle represents the central question behind the entire Scion by Toyota initiative: "What if we go beyond the automotive mainstream? Well, you're looking at our first answer. Beyond Starts Here with the first product from Scion by Toyota."

Christ described it as: "Affordable, capable, and adaptable to a variety of lifestyles and applications."

Toyota hopes owners will use the vehicle as a foundation for their own ideas and applications, much as the original Scion customers once customized their vehicles to fit their individuality.

Although compact, KEI-01offers surprising functionality. Toyota sees applications ranging from light-duty hauling and agricultural work to facility maintenance and short-distance commercial transport. An enclosed cabin with both heating and air conditioning further broadens its usefulness.

According to Christ, these qualities could prove particularly attractive to:

• Small business owners
• Ranch operators
• Customers who need to operate well in limited spaces

All this, while benefiting from low operating costs and easy ownership. 

KEI-01 will start sales in the U.S. under a pilot program beginning in the second half of 2027 for fleet customers. Toyota will evaluate opportunities to expand availability following the pilot program and might consider limited retail sales in the future depending on market conditions and customer demand.

As a Low-Speed Vehicle, KEI-01 complies with U.S. regulations that limit maximum speed to 25 mph.

Closing the event, Christ returned to the broader mission behind the brand. He described Scion by Toyota as a place for exploring new mobility possibilities while opening doors to fresh ideas and new directions. 

"As we shape the brand, we'll keep asking what could mobility make possible for people? How could it fit into their lives and help them do what they love, or inspire them to try something new?" 

He then left the audience with a preview of what lies ahead: "Today is just the beginning, and we can't wait to share what's next."
And finally, perhaps the clearest expression yet of what Scion by Toyota hopes to become: "Imagining what's possible and opening the door to new ways to move. That's what Scion by Toyota is all about." 

For Toyota, Scion is no longer simply a brand aimed at younger buyers. It is becoming a platform for experimentation, a home for unconventional ideas, and a place where the definition of mobility itself can continue to evolve. What comes next remains unwritten, but the first chapter has begun.

In a future article, Toyota Times plans to explore the development story behind KEI-01, including perspectives from the Indiana-based team and the evolving role of kei trucks in North America.