by baby_souffle on 8/2/25, 6:51 PM
I spoke to them a lot at OpenSauce.
- The body panels were composite but they want to go to stamped metal for production.
- It's based off of the subaru ascent; at least most of the frame and suspension is.
- NMC chemistry, didn't get an OEM name for the actual cell/pouch though.
- Mostly off the shelf Bosch power-train components. Will be interesting to see a tear-down once they're for sale.
- No commitment on how "open" the vehicle will be to modifications. They have designed in attachment points for upgrades but it didn't seem to be anywhere as extensive as what Slate is doing. This makes some sense; they have a more "finished" vision where Slate is intentionally taking the "our vision is for you to buy the canvas from us and then make it your own" approach.
On that last point, I don't think Slate has released anything substantial either w/r/t the CAN bus either. As far as I know, their plan is still a BYOD approach for the head-unit so here's hoping that it'll be relatively straight forward to interrogate the busses from an android or linux device. The Telo had a head-unit integrated so who knows how much control you'll have over the vehicle.
by sheepscreek on 8/2/25, 6:48 PM
I love the fantastic designs and form factors popping up in mini-EV truck/SUV space. My worry is for the business feasibility for these. Why isn’t Tesla making these? They have the supply chain and expertise to easily pull it off and they’d be such a big hit. People switching to them for light cargo would be a REAL contribution in cutting use of carbon.
I can think of one possibility. At Tesla’s scale, production becomes feasible only if they can produce X million units. This is because setting up production tooling, supply chain channels, and other associated costs is prohibitively expensive. Additionally, the demand for these vehicles will be relatively low until influential YouTubers in the construction, farming, and rural sectors become advocates and start promoting them.
In my opinion, electric vehicles (EVs) are perfectly suited for this task. They are ideal for transporting heavy items between nearby destinations, such as moving Home Depot supplies to a construction site or Costco products to a restaurant or store. A range of even 200 miles is practical for this use-case and keeps the cost low (MT1 is a beast by my standard).
For clarification, I am all for more competition. But I am also selfish and I really want this segment to become wildly successful . In any case, I really and truly hope they can make the business case work and be profitable/sustainable.
by rsync on 8/2/25, 7:00 PM
I immediately searched the site for interior pictures and had my pessimism confirmed ... it's a design-free interior with no physical controls.
At least they kept the stalks on the steering column ...
by Jach on 8/2/25, 7:12 PM
Still as ugly as last time it appeared on HN, it has none of the charm of a Kei truck. I wish any company would just take the old Ford Ranger designs (2011 and earlier) and make a truck on that. Or better yet, Ford themselves could redo the electric version of the Ranger (
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Ranger_EV) from 25 years ago with modern tech but the same look.
by numpad0 on 8/2/25, 5:55 PM
> 152 in Length 73 in Width 66 in Height
This is 3860 x 1854 x 1676mm, or 14% x 25% x -16% bigger than Japanese Kei car specifications(3400 x 1480 x 2000mm max.) Closest match in features among Kei cars would be Daihatsu Hijet Deck Van, except that one is 465mm / 18" shorter that this having an awkwardly short 880mm / 35" long bed.
by 999900000999 on 8/2/25, 8:14 PM
41k ?!
The entire point of the Slate truck is to try to come in under 20K or around it, and without the EV subsidies that's probably not going to happen.
by fumar on 8/2/25, 6:25 PM
by zmmmmm on 8/2/25, 11:54 PM
One thing I'm really happy about with the rise of EVs is that they seem to be unlocking a fresh wave of innovation. This is in part because at a fundamental level, they are much simpler and easier to manufacture and more flexible in terms of design, so they are far more accessible for the startup ecosystem to break into. I'm really looking forward to what else we see emerging in the next few years once all the basic EV technology is commoditised.
by levocardia on 8/2/25, 6:51 PM
I am glad to see EV companies doing something different, aesthetically. In this particular case I do not like it -- at all -- but I much prefer a high-variance aesthetic distribution to the genetic every-car-looks-the-same world we have now, sans a tiny few exceptions.
The side compartment under the bed / in front of the rear wheel is pretty cool too.
by grokx on 8/2/25, 6:25 PM
by Kephael on 8/2/25, 10:24 PM
This is a bad marketing idea to compare a golf cart like this to a Toyota Tacoma. There is practically zero ground clearance and a unibody frame, this will high center in places where I regularly drive my Tacoma. Tacoma wins on ruggedness, lower total cost of ownership thanks to a significantly lower price and having limited depreciation.
Unless these are priced at under $30,000 for the AWD, these will flop commercially.
If the CAFE standards could be fixed, we could get ICE and hybrid trucks that are smaller and more affordable, the EV route is too expensive and the products are strange.
by markbao on 8/2/25, 6:58 PM
This is cool I guess but I don’t get why some of these electric car companies have to design cars that look like toys. Rivian and this. It looks like a golf cart with a flatbed. I think an electric kei truck would have a huge market in the US but the design needs some work to be taken seriously.
There’s something to be said for being distinctive, but you can do that while not looking silly (Lucid is a good example). And simply being a small electric truck is enough differentiation anyway
by siva7 on 8/2/25, 6:48 PM
It's aesthetically not pleasing in my eyes. They even have a comparison with ford trucks on their page and all i'm thinking is yeah i'd take that ford instantly over that thing.
by treetalker on 8/2/25, 5:43 PM
The real question is whether it's compatible with standard truck nuts: if not, the Florida market will remain inaccessible.
by ThinkBeat on 8/2/25, 9:03 PM
One thing I have learned.
If you own a pick up like vehicle
You will be helping even people you barely know
to move. and your extended friends and family
whenever they buy something too big to fit in their car
by world2vec on 8/2/25, 8:22 PM
by torginus on 8/2/25, 7:20 PM
I really like the idea of taking advantage of there not being an engine bay in the front, and moving the driver position forward, and eliminating the unused length of the engine bay - but this looks very unsafe for the driver in a crash, with no crumple zone to speak of - not to mention it turns a simple fender bender into a front axle replacement (though with modern cars and their sensors, there's no such thing as a cheap crash anyway)
by rsktaker on 8/3/25, 8:13 PM
(Not sure if this is just me, but) I find this truck so aesthetically displeasing?
Somehow, most EVs have curves and "bounciness" (and why such odd headlights??) in all the right places to make it look childish. I find the Tesla sedan extremely aesthetic though, that might be the one exception. The bigger Teslas (especially in color white) remind me of pandas for some reason.
by programmertote on 8/2/25, 8:51 PM
Looks good and a step in the right direction (speaking as someone who thinks the modern day trucks are getting too big for the danger of those driving alongside them on the roads).
I wonder though if the interior trim can be ordered without this felt-like material. I can easily see that being stained or dirty in a short period of time. I am sure there is.
by CarVac on 8/3/25, 1:39 AM
by jsight on 8/2/25, 6:16 PM
People tend to focus on demand, but just getting vehicles like this into production at a profitable cost often turns out to be impossible.
It is a 10-15k/year product at best. How does an independent maker get that profitable at <$50k, despite all the costs of setting up a sales and service network?
by photios on 8/2/25, 7:39 PM
by lazycouchpotato on 8/2/25, 6:26 PM
by sockboy on 8/2/25, 9:46 PM
Interesting to see how much the perception of trucks varies globally. For many, it’s about versatility and utility beyond just daily commuting. The off-road and hauling capabilities often get overlooked in city-centric debates.
by jama211 on 8/2/25, 7:41 PM
This isn’t a mini truck, it’s a truck. It’s just that the others are giant trucks.
by Tadpole9181 on 8/3/25, 12:20 AM
Man, I'd love something like this. I was happy with my small, early 2000s pickup, but everything in the used market when it died were obnoxious show-off vehicles that quite literally don't even fit in most of the parking spaces in my city. This has that cute kei truck look... well... Maybe an inbred kei truck. But it seems just the right size for utility (and my much-missed tailgate naps).
But $42k is just so much money to me. I've never spent more than ~$15k (financed) on a vehicle and I feel like I'm fairly well off...
by stefap2 on 8/2/25, 11:31 PM
I thought electric cars are simpler and should be cheaper. You can tariff out competition only for so long...
by jeffbee on 8/2/25, 7:01 PM
Is there some reason they have to make these have 300 or 500hp? Or is there nothing to be gained in terms of cost and weight from having, say, 90hp (like my completely functional Mighty Max had).
by 1970-01-01 on 8/3/25, 1:08 PM
Telo are too small to succeed and too interesting to fail. I expect them to be bought after they fully launch the vehicle and it shows promise.
by ThinkBeat on 8/2/25, 9:01 PM
This can fun a fun and practical vehicle,
and it has a lot nifty solutions,
and should serve sub(urban) life well.
but if you really need a pickup truck,
this cannot compare to a Tacoma
That said I dont think anyone buying a Tacoma
will be tempted by this vehicle, and I dont think
the buyers of the MT1 will be comparison checking
the Tacoma either.
Separate markets the way I see it,
as do they
""EV pickup for urban living and weekend adventuring""
So why the comparison?
by dluan on 8/3/25, 4:30 AM
For $41k, I can buy 20 chang li explorer trucks off alibaba and have $1000 leftover.
I just fail to see how anyone sane would try and enter this market right now.
by dfee on 8/2/25, 5:20 PM
> We're tired of oversized, impractical trucks designed for show over substance.
I wonder if Telo is attempting to define a new category. Substance in a truck, in my lived opinion, is about utility. Towing capacity, ruggedness, ability to go (very) off road. An electric power train shows promise, but is limited by infra.
If that’s not the target, then maybe it’s a different target, such as San Francisco residents where space is limited and a slight nod to utility is adequate.
Further down the peninsula, and specifically in the Santa Cruz mountains, this is less interesting. I can’t imagine this for outdoor (e.g. mountain biking) or project oriented (e.g. landscaping) people.
So back to the top: if they’re marketing substance over show, maybe they’re really marketing to people who desire show over substance.
Edit: let me also throw in my drive down to the bottom tip of Baja a few months ago. The roads were rough in places, and I definitely went off road to reach some interesting places. It reminded me of some rough terrain and roads in Wyoming and Oklahoma - truck states. Without big wheels and tough suspension - I wouldn’t take a Telo.
by nacholar on 8/2/25, 7:30 PM
Apparently nobody speaks spanish in the team. Telo MT1 can be read as "te lo mete uno" which translates to sombedy puts it into you.
by antisthenes on 8/2/25, 8:01 PM
The information you're looking for is $41,520
by ChipopLeMoral on 8/3/25, 3:01 AM
I really like the solar roof and bed cover add-ons. They don't have specs but should be roughly 4 square meters combined or so? so about 800w at peak power. Not enough to let you rely on it even if you live in a sunny place, but it could add up to a nice reduction in cost per mile if you use it to commute and park it in the sun.
by ghushn3 on 8/3/25, 1:37 AM
This rules. I hope it succeeds. More smaller vehicles designed for urban spaces please!
by iambateman on 8/2/25, 7:32 PM
I’d love to drive something like this. Looking forward to these hitting the market!
by Poiesis on 8/5/25, 3:16 PM
I sure wish more of these electric trucks came with paint-free body panels. Say what you will about the Cybertruck, but the idea of a truck that doesn't have paint is very attractive to me. Seems like this one is moving away from plastic to steel, and I haven't seen what the Slate so I imagine it's probably painted steel as well. Plastic, stainless, whatever...I just don't want a paint job to worry about.
by smcleod on 8/2/25, 10:19 PM
This is incredibly sensible design (if they pull it off), it's a reasonable size (unlike a lot of 'Murcian utility vehicles), has some good options (like the dual solar roof) and a useful carry layout.
by tgtweak on 8/3/25, 3:39 PM
How many kWh? Charging specs? Solar panel specs?
Honestly feels so far from an actual product I wouldn't expect to see it for another 3 years, in which time there will certainly be better options for $50,000.
by sschueller on 8/3/25, 9:46 AM
Is an open front wheel like this street legal? Seems to be it would be a safety issue for pedestrians. Legally weels also are not allowed to stick out past the fender when straight.
by sgt on 8/2/25, 7:34 PM
by lend000 on 8/2/25, 6:56 PM
As much as I like the novelty of the design, there isn't much of a crumple zone for a head on collision. I could see the wheel placement making this a fun off-road vehicle, though.
by MarcelOlsz on 8/2/25, 7:25 PM
Next level ugly. One of the worst designs I've ever seen.
by thecrumb on 8/3/25, 1:55 PM
Why do these 'new' trucks feel they need to reinvent the wheel? I don't want something I need to 'reconfigure' to either carry people or a 4x8. I don't need seating for 4. I need a small utility truck. Like... a Toyota. A late 70's, early 80's Toyota. No electric windows. No fancy interior. Seating for 2 (my and my dog). No information screen...
by tunapizza on 8/3/25, 9:57 PM
by hackama on 8/2/25, 7:47 PM
This seems dangerous. Where's the crumple zone?
by drivingmenuts on 8/2/25, 7:34 PM
I saw this on JerryRigEverything and was thinking that this is the perfect city pickup. Compact, yet with a reasonable payload size. It has a good range (which, in my case, is not as important) and the horsepower is good. The dash takes a bit of getting used to, but OK.
It's the second electric vehicle I actually like (Rivian being the first - but it's a full-size).
by Thorrez on 8/3/25, 9:54 AM
>Our standard five-seat crew cab features a 5-foot bed capacity with a configurable mid-partition that either increases the bed size to accommodate 4-by-8-foot plywood sheets with the tailgate up or to allow for additional seating for up to eight passengers.
Eight passengers while driving? Where? I don't see any pictures of that.
by keyle on 8/3/25, 12:43 AM
Exciting to see new development, especially in this terminal economy.
What sort of ANCAP rating do they get with such a short front hood?
by barbegal on 8/2/25, 7:04 PM
The reason why we don't generally have vehicles this small any more is because they don't pass crash tests so I'm wondering how this fares in a crash test. I can't see any way this could be sold in Europe unless there's some very clever engineering to make the front end more resilient in a crash.
by andai on 8/3/25, 5:19 AM
Why'd they make it look like that? It looks like one of those dog breeds that can't breathe normally.
by mNovak on 8/3/25, 1:55 AM
A fabric interior? That's one I didn't see coming. Seems like it'd be harder to clean.
by devmor on 8/2/25, 9:16 PM
If it had full physical controls in the interior, this would be my dream vehicle. I'd reserve one today.
The second I saw that touchscreen garbage dashboard I closed the window. I'll never buy a vehicle with that nonsense.
by silcoon on 8/2/25, 11:15 PM
In Australia, BYD Shark 6 is currently conquering the market for the EV utes.
by bagels on 8/2/25, 11:33 PM
$42k. If you're making a tiny truck, it should have a tiny price.
by lysace on 8/2/25, 7:41 PM
When your legs are an integral part of the crumple zone.
by kart23 on 8/2/25, 5:45 PM
why are there no pictures of the backseat? tired of cars with four doors and backseats made exclusively for children. and they say it can fit 8 people???
by lofaszvanitt on 8/3/25, 6:35 AM
It looks horrible. Why do all these new electric cars look like they've been through a 'you don't want to buy this' session?
by koinedad on 8/3/25, 12:20 AM
I like the mini idea. I want a small car thing and this might be just the type of thing that is practical for me
by ionwake on 8/2/25, 10:47 PM
Sorry am I being an idiot or is there no rough price for this?
EDIT> Price is $50k 350m range . Nearly London -> Edinburgh
by cpursley on 8/3/25, 12:06 AM
Love the footprint, hate the cloth interior. I want to be able to spay it out after my mountain biking trips.
by nelsonic on 8/2/25, 9:12 PM
Really hope enough people buy these new so that in a few years time I can get a second hand one. ;-)
by WorldPeas on 8/2/25, 8:48 PM
Let's hope now that CAFE is dead or at least disarmed, more cars like this will come from the woodwork. I was always jealous that the japanese had so many cool small kei cars like the Subaru Sambar or Suzuki Cappuccino
by bastian on 8/2/25, 11:46 PM
This will be a giant success.
by throwmeaway222 on 8/3/25, 5:05 AM
Neat, but I imagined what an accident with a semi head on would do to me...
by emsign on 8/3/25, 4:41 AM
I can't customize that ugly front into a cooler design unfortunately.
by jimmoores on 8/2/25, 6:41 PM
Wow, that is one ugly vehicle. It looks like it's been in an accident.
by thisOtterBeGood on 8/4/25, 10:54 AM
I'm not sure this thing would fare well in a crash test.
by nixgeek on 8/3/25, 3:58 AM
Did anyone reserve? If yes what’s your preorder position number?
by largbae on 8/2/25, 7:46 PM
Telo vs Slate.... Fight!
by yahoozoo on 8/2/25, 6:59 PM
Looks like a Kei truck
by 1024core on 8/2/25, 10:44 PM
Bottom of the page:
> Copyright © 2024 TELO Trucks. All rights reserved.
by SilverElfin on 8/2/25, 6:49 PM
What’s the range when loaded with things or people? That’s what matters. I find that most EVs have too many impracticalities to be convenient. For a fixed commute, sure. But for versatility, absolutely not.
by andy_ppp on 8/2/25, 8:39 PM
It looks like a pug. I’m not saying that is bad :-)
by almost_usual on 8/2/25, 10:50 PM
Nice, how much do I need to cut to get 33s on it?
by __0x01 on 8/2/25, 7:50 PM
Is this cheaper to run than the gas equivalent?
by macinjosh on 8/2/25, 6:55 PM
way too expensive for its size and capability
by wstrange on 8/2/25, 7:10 PM
This is what Tesla should have built instead of the Cybertruck.
With their distribution and service centers, this would sell like hot cakes.
by andreygrehov on 8/2/25, 10:49 PM
Why is the design so… awkward?
by ergl on 8/4/25, 4:21 PM
This is literally an ad.
by bikamonki on 8/2/25, 8:52 PM
Super ugly and super pricey.
by qwertox on 8/2/25, 11:03 PM
What a great form factor.
by deadbabe on 8/2/25, 11:44 PM
how are you supposed to put some big tires on this thing
by sciencesama on 8/3/25, 7:12 AM
for this size i would want it to be less than 20k !
by Arch-TK on 8/3/25, 12:08 AM
I like that it's small and potentially even more functional than whatever idiotic American small-dick-compensating nonsense people buy these days but why does it need to be so ugly?
If you want more people to buy sensible vehicles, make them look nice i.e. not like something NASA would send to Mars.
by roschdal on 8/2/25, 7:23 PM
Telo MT1 - "your knees are the crumble zone"
by holoduke on 8/2/25, 8:04 PM
Sorry. But to me it looks like a truck i can order on alieexpress. Does not show any robustness, strength and is not sexy at all. Nice for your local laundry delivery service at your beach resort. But thats it.
by sMarsIntruder on 8/3/25, 6:39 AM
When EU?
by prmoustache on 8/2/25, 7:10 PM
Too small, this won't sell.
by tasqyn on 8/3/25, 5:21 PM
why it is so ugly?
by tills13 on 8/2/25, 6:33 PM
Can't wait to see what mental gymnastics are done to make this illegal or heavily taxed in some US States.
by aynyc on 8/2/25, 7:31 PM
This is what Ford e-transit could’ve been. Another missed opportunity by Ford.
by zombiwoof on 8/2/25, 11:15 PM
Another Canoo bankrupt future and lose my 150 bucks?
by rpmisms on 8/2/25, 9:18 PM
Just make a gas-powered one that's repairable. This is not complicated. I love my Tesla, but my other vehicle is a Hardbody for a reason. EVs SUCK as trucks.
by iandanforth on 8/2/25, 10:53 PM
My wife caught a glimpse of this over my shoulder, "What an ugly truck." she said immediately. Pretty much sums it up.
by pokechamp on 8/3/25, 3:46 PM
> With Toyota Tacoma capability, Tesla-like range and efficiency, in the footprint of a MINI Cooper, the TELO MT1 is the most compact, practical and technically advanced truck.
I'm cautious anytime a brand compares themselves.
by plantwallshoe on 8/2/25, 9:39 PM
It doesn’t matter how capable, efficient, affordable, powerful, etc. the truck is. That’s not the point.
The point of a truck for 90% of American pickup truck drivers is that it signals to the world around them what team they’re on. This truck is a signal for the wrong team.
by TheGuyWhoCodes on 8/2/25, 5:42 PM
Very little information about safety other than marketing speak "Utilizing the latest in advanced safety technology—sensors to predict and classify collisions before they happen, airbags, and structural technology—to make our vehicles safer for everyone on the road."
Have they never heard of a crumple zone?
by geuis on 8/2/25, 5:43 PM
Who is the target market here?
* Purely subjective opinion: It's ugly as hell. The front of vehicles isn't just for engines, it's also for aerodynamics.
* It's crazy expensive.
* The bed looks too short to be practically useful.
* The wheels look comically small.
* The ground clearance doesn't seem to make it useful for more than suburban and urban road environments.
by wg0 on 8/2/25, 8:39 PM
EVs are scam of the century. They have diverted so much economic resources into an end product that isn't even reliable let alone having a long life.
Yet to talk about the amount of mining, its carbon footprint and pretty much irreversible or really high cost extraction/restoration of batteries apart.
Longevity and carbon footprint - If that's not your yardstick than other than that the EVs are great. Have more power than any combustion engine can ever have, have more torque, more acceleration and pretty much zero maintenance as far as the "engine" is concerned. No noise, no emissions, no vibrations either.