Nobody can deny it – America simply loves pickup trucks. Ford's F-150 lineup has consistently been a large revenue generator and the country's best-selling tradespeople-oriented vehicle for, believe it or not, 46 consecutive years. As such, it's unsurprising that others are trying to relieve the Blue Oval of its intensive manufacturing burden. Telo, however, is going on a different path, and it might just be the right one.
There are quite a few people out there who say that owners of full-size pickup trucks can be obnoxious. They argue that these vehicles are too large, not used for their true purpose, and need too much fuel to do what a much more economical midsize sedan would perfectly be capable of.
Things have gotten a bit out of hand over the pond in this respect. SUV and pickup truck owners from Europe must deal with the threat of activists who deflate tires in the middle of the night. The movement is also spreading to other parts of the world. Australians, for example, have to deal with similar worries. No ute is safe where the "Tire Extinguishers" are active.
Back to the Land of the Free and Opportunity, more and more Americans complain online about the size of personal vehicles, the absence of reliable public transport, and are not content with how we relate to mobility.
There's also the money issue. Most of us must spend a lot on a car to commute. Given today's economic conditions and the high interest rates, people are increasingly more aware of ownership costs. They may not like it when the monthly car note exceeds the $1,000 threshold.
Photo: DavidZipper on Twitter
However, it's understandable that people are willing to put up with higher MSRPs. Some want that special vehicle they have been dreaming about for too long, while others may just be caught up in an environment where impressing the neighbor makes more sense than saving money.
Still, most Americans don't buy pickup trucks and SUVs because they dream of one-upping someone living next to them or wanting to be the star of a friend group. It's almost a culture. Most pickup trucks or SUVs available today enable you to go virtually anywhere, as long as it does not involve serious off-roading. I, myself, dream about getting behind the steering wheel of an F-150 Raptor or a quad-motor Rivian R1T that I can call my own.
Personal automotive ideals do not bode well with common real-world traffic scenarios
It does almost feel like an epidemic, but these types of vehicles hold a certain appeal to them that mirrors the particular fascination behind supercars. They might fare better in very different environments, but the joy the driver gets from using them properly is almost the same. The adrenaline is certainly there!
Believe it or not, pickup trucks can be lifestyle vehicles, and automakers might continue to push in this direction. People who buy workhorses don't care about options, advanced technology, and loading their cars with optional equipment that might translate into a higher ownership cost over the years. They don't contribute to higher profit margins.
However, not everyone can afford such top-of-the-line vehicles that provide an exhilarating experience when pushed to their limits. Most often, these large machines stay within the city and occupy a lot of space. Then, they are moved to the suburbs where insufficiently long driveways can't accommodate them. That's how some people end up (righteously) frustrated because they can't use the public land that's there for everybody.
Photo: Telo Trucks
But when a problem arises, business-savvy people can figure out a solution. The first problem regarding gas guzzlers is almost solved. Vehicles like the F-150 Lightning or the R1T exist. The Cybertruck and the Silverado EV will soon join them. Zero-emission pickup trucks are going to become an increasingly common sight on the road.
However, given the situation described above, replacing the internal combustion engine and gas with motors and batteries is not enough. To make crowded areas feel less cramped and help with the fight against global warming, we might have to go back to the '70s. That's when the bed of a pickup truck represented over 60% of the vehicle. Nowadays, the cab is larger.
A brave new way forward
Major Chinese retailers have been selling extremely cheap all-electric mini-trucks for quite some time. They cost around $2,000 and can do a lot of work on a single charge. Some can even be ordered with familiar looks. Need a smaller Toyota Tundra or Ford F-150? It's doable.
But the money you spend on importing such a little thing is reflected by its quality. Don't expect more than the bare minimum.
Fortunately, you might soon be able to get your hands on a homegrown small, all-electric pickup truck that features more than just the basics. Telo Trucks is taking care of that, and the company is getting ready to release the production version of the MT1. It's an "urban adventure vehicle" that can do much more with less. Essentially, it's a small pickup truck. Really small. It's smaller than a Ford Maverick!
Photo: Telo Trucks
It measures 152 inches in length, 73 inches in width, and 66 inches in height. The bed has a five-foot storage capacity and only takes 39% of the length! The weight is around the 4,400-lb mark. But probably the most impressive thing about this promising all-electric pickup truck is that it can accommodate five or eight adults. It's possible to convert the bed to a third row.
The renders also show that Telo took a page from the Rivian playbook because the MT1 appears to have a gear tunnel. When configured to include a third row, the extra storage area can serve as a footwell for those sitting in the rear.
The company is proud that its product shares the overall length with a contemporary two-door Mini Cooper and claims it's "saving the planet, saving lives, and saving space."
Practical simplicity is good; keeping it real is better
The MT1 can reach 60 mph in four seconds, and it keeps going until the top speed of 125 mph is reached. The dual-motor powertrain enables all-wheel drive and an output of 500 hp. The range isn't too shabby either – 350 miles.
All that is estimated to be available at a starting cost of $50,000 minus one dollar and excluding any potential incentives.
The leading team behind the MT1 comprises Jason Marks, Forrest North, and Yves Behar. They have interesting and relevant backgrounds. The CEO worked on autonomous and advanced driver-assistance systems for some of America's most well-known manufacturers. The CTO spent time developing the first Tesla Roadster battery and founded Plugshare. The Chief Designer worked with Samsung, Puma, Herman Miller, Prada, and L'Oreal.
Photo: Telo Trucks
They appear to have the necessary expertise to bring forward yet another American EV that could become an important competitor in this space that's currently in full expansion mode.
Pre-ordering the Telo MT1 costs interested customers $152, representing a fully refundable deposit. If the company doesn't go belly up, you get the money back.
However, don't get your hopes up. When writing, there is no functional prototype to display. The MT1 is a concept – for now. The California-based company is in the midst of bringing forward something that can display all the capabilities of the small pickup truck that can also be converted into a three-row SUV from the factory.
It certainly holds a lot of promise, and the MT1 could help free up some public space. But in a world where new car shoppers traded the sedan and the hatchback for crossovers, SUVs that rarely see dirt roads, and full-size pickup trucks that have beds just for the sake of it… Well, let's just say that Telo has embarked on a challenging mission.
But Rivian and Tesla have had similar starts. Maybe Telo will follow in their footsteps!
Car shows on TV and his father's Fiat Tempra may have been Florin's early influences, but nowadays he favors different things, like the power of an F-150 Raptor. He'll never be able to ignore the shape of a Ferrari though, especially a yellow one. Full profile
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