Did Someone Hit a Rivian R1T with a Shrink Ray? It’s the New Telo EV Mini Truck!

July 2026 · 5 minute read

By Drew Dorian

Overview

If you’ve ever wondered what would happen if someone crossed a Mini Cooper with a pickup truck, have a look at the upcoming Telo MT1. This miniature electric truck aims to be an electric alternative to tiny kei-class trucks imported from Japan—except, with as much as 500 horsepower on tap, the MT1 will blow the doors off one of those poky workhorses.

Two battery sizes are said to be available for the MT1, the first one lending the truck 260 miles of driving range, and the second, larger option boosting that number as high as 350 miles per charge. The interior isn’t as stripped-down as the upcoming Slate Truck, which will serve as the MT1’s primary rival. A touchscreen infotainment system is standard, and unlike the Slate, the MT1 offers a back seat.

Expert Tip: Telo has yet to deliver any MT1s to customers, but says the truck is on track to enter production before the end of 2026. If you can’t wait that long and need a small pickup truck now, we’d suggest looking at the 10Best-winning Ford Maverick Hybrid instead.

Video poster

What’s New for 2027?

The MT1 will be a brand-new offering from a brand-new company called Telo.

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Pricing and Which One to Buy

EV Motor, Power, and Performance

Considering its minuscule size, the MT1 might seem massively overpowered with its optional 500-hp dual-motor powertrain. Even the base 300-hp rear-wheel drive setup should make the MT1 pretty quick. We haven’t had a chance to test drive the MT1 ourselves, but when we do, we’ll update this story with driving impressions.

0–60-MPH Times

In Comparison: Telo estimates that the MT1 should reach 60 mph in as little as 4.0 seconds when equipped with the dual-motor powertrain. That would put it in the same acceleration territory as EVs such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5 SUV and the Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup truck.

front view, red pickup driving through sand with large dust clouds behind.

Telo

Towing and Payload Capacity

In Comparison: While the Telo’s 6600-pound towing capacity will be enough for most folks, the Rivian R1T can tow up to 11,000 pounds and might be a better option for those in need of heavier-duty capability.

Range, Charging, and Battery Life

A 77-kWh battery pack is standard and is said to provide up to 260 miles of driving range, and a larger 106-kWh pack is available, which extends the estimated driving range to 350 miles per charge. Telo says the battery can be charged on a DC fast-charging connection from 20 to 80 percent in as little as 20 minutes.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

First Row: The MT1’s cabin is streamlined and minimalistic, but it isn’t basic. A patterned fabric covers the seats and the dashboard, and two two-tone color schemes are offered, including a cool blue-and-grey offering. A squared-off steering wheel sits in front of a digital gauge cluster. The MT1 is narrow, but two adults should fit in the front seats just fine.

Second Row: Unlike the Slate Truck, the MT1 comes as a crew-cab body style with two rear doors that open to a bench seat. Passenger space is expected to be limited but should be enough to fit a pair of adults in a pinch.

Cargo Capacity: A small pickup truck bed sits aft of the cabin, but the MT1’s rear seats fold flat, and the rear bulkhead drops away to expand bed space into the rear of the cabin for longer items. Telo says the bed has been designed to accommodate a four-by-eight sheet of plywood. Like the Rivian R1T, the MT1 offers a tunnel-style storage locker beneath the bed. A hard tonneau cover and a bedcap are offered as accessory add-ons to provide all-weather protection for whatever is stored in the bed.

vehicle interior view, blue cabin with widescreen display and fabric seats.

Telo

Infotainment and Connectivity

All models come with a 13.0-inch infotainment display with Bluetooth and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. We haven’t used the system yet, so we can’t say if it’s intuitive or not. When we take a test drive, we’ll update this story with details. Telo has also not announced how many speakers are inside the MT1’s small cabin.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

We don’t know about all of the MT1’s safety features yet, but we know basic ones, such as forward collision warning, a backup camera, and parking sensors, will all be included.

For information about the MT1’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.

As more information becomes available, we’ll update this story with more details about: