Small, affordable pickups are an incredibly hot segment of the car market these days, and one EV startup tackling this segment unveiled their first pre-production vehicle this week.
TELO Trucks, a California startup is taking on the giant trucks of today by focusing on smaller, more affordable trucks. the company aims to make trucks that can be used for everyday tasks, as EV adoption begins to move away from high prices luxury sedans.
TELO trucks will be aimed both at a consumer and fleet audience. Telo’s trucks are about the size of a Mini Cooper, but will offer seating for 4 adults in a crew cab configuration, and will be equipped with a 5-foot bed. The company claims the trucks will have 500 horsepower and approximately 350 miles of range.
TELO moves closer to production after closing on a a $5.4M strategic funding round in March 2024. The company currently has over 5,000 pre-orders which represents over $250M+ in customer commitments and surging interest in the mini truck. TELO partnersed with prototype manufacturing partner Aria Group, to build the vehicle prototype.
Small trucks seem like a market that’s here to stay and one that has major potential for legacy automakers and startups alike. the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz are a mainstay on the roads and there’s major interest in the car market for Japanese mini trucks as well. Consumers are asking for big utility in a small, affordable package, and companies like TELO are poised to step in and fill the need.
