Telo’s Teeny Tiny Truck Is A Heavy Hauling Transformer

By Gary Gastelu |

Mar 7, 2025

Telo is ready to hit the road.

The California-based electric truck startup that debuted in 2023 has had its first pre-production pickup completed.

The Telo MT1 is the size of a Mini Cooper, but designed to seat five passengers and fit a five-foot bed within its 152-inch-long package.

Telo plans to offer the pickup in two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive models with 300 hp and 500 hp that can accelerate to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds and 3.5 seconds, respectively.

They are also projected to have payload ratings of 2,000 pounds and 1,700 pounds, which would compete against much larger midsize pickups like the Toyota Tacoma and Ford Ranger.

The bed can also be extended to eight feet by removing the rear wall of the cabin, similar to the Multi-Flex Midgate found on the Chevrolet Silverado EV.

Pricing is estimated to start at $41,250 for a two-wheel-drive model with 260 miles of range, but a larger battery that offers 350 miles of range will be available for $3,980. The truck has also been designed to convert into a van with three rows of seats using an accessory cap for the bed.

MT1 development is far from complete, but the company expects it to be homologated for sale within a year. The pre-production truck was built by Aria Group, which specializes in prototype vehicles, but Telo is planning for initial manufacturing of the MT1 to take place at its facility in San Carlos, Calif., near San Francisco.