- Telo now allows you to configure one of its upcoming MT1 subcompact-sized electric pickups.
- The base single-motor standard-range model starts at $41,520, but the company says this is still subject to change.
- Telo has already built working MT1 prototypes and it intends to begin limited production next year before ramping up in 2026.
There aren’t enough small electric pickups in America, but California-based Telo wants to change that. Its adorable MT1 measures just 152 inches in total length, or about the same size as a subcompact car, but it promises serious performance and range for such a small package, which is why it’s not cheap.
Telo just launched a configurator for its pickup, starting at $41,520. For that, you get it with a single 300-horsepower motor that powers the rear wheels. Its standard battery pack provides a claimed 260 miles of range. Upgrade to the long-range pack with 106 kilowatt-hours for $3,980 to increase the range to 350 miles.
If you want a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive configuration, that pushes the starting price to $46,019, but it increases the combined power output to 500 hp. This variant accelerates to 60 mph (96 km/h) from a standstill in 4 seconds, and its top speed is 125 mph (201 km/h).
Fast charging can add 210 miles of range in 20 minutes in vehicles equipped with the large battery. The manufacturer hasn’t shared any additional charging details yet other than the fact that it will come with a standard NACS port.
Even though the MT1 has the footprint of a Mini Cooper SE, it has a crew cab capable of seating five, and its 60-inch bed is longer than that of a Rivian R1T, and it matches a Toyota Tacoma. It also has a removable midgate that extends the bed into the cab.
Gallery: Telo MT1 subcompact electric truck
With the midgate out, you can add a third row of seats, which you can leave out and open to the elements, or you can close off the bed area, essentially turning the MT1 into a small van. The bed also has a lockable tonneau cover, so you can use it like the trunk of a normal car.
With a payload capacity of 1,600 pounds and the ability to tow up to 6,600 pounds, the MT1 shouldn’t have a problem performing as a small work truck. Its layout, somewhere between a traditional truck with a long hood and a cab-forward design, helps with its compactness, maneuverability in tight places and forward visibility.
Telo says it has over 3,700 reservations for the MT1, and you can pre-order yours with a $152 deposit. The order book is, therefore, not officially open yet, and the company says it may still adjust the pricing. Production is planned to start next year, with the first 500 units being hand-built. If it enters production as planned, it will be the smallest new pickup on the market and it will compete with trucks like the larger Ford Maverick hybrid, which is considerably cheaper.
