IEV-PODCST-template - August 11, 2026 at 09.30.56-1-Heads (2)Telo says its mini electric truck will offer 350 miles of range, four doors, and the same bed length as a four-door Toyota Tacoma.Telo trucks has made some big promises. Its upcoming MT1 electric mini truck is supposed to deliver up to 350 miles of range, 8,000 pounds of towing capacity, 500 horsepower, ultra-fast 800V charging, and a five-foot truck bed in a footprint no longer than a two-door Mini Cooper.But as America's graveyard of EV startups grows, is Telo prepared to go the distance? I interviewed two of the company's founders to find out.Both CEO Jason Marks and CTO Forrest North say that the company's first product is almost ready to launch. But both are also honest that high-volume production isn't the immediate goal. Telo MT1 towing"We're not looking at going to 100,000 units in year one," Marks told me. "We're looking to get to 500 units on year one, 5,000 units on year two, and only once we establish that can we really go mass market and scale."AdvertisementAdvertisementMarks likens the approach to Tesla, which launched with the low-volume Roadster before building the more mass-market Model S. The company made fewer than 2,500 Roadsters between 2008 and 2012. Telo wants to run the same playbook, which should come as no surprise given that Tesla co-founders Martin Eberhard and Marc Tarpenning are investors in Telo. Telo electric truck adventureTelo electric truck bed surfboardTelo electric truck camper shellTelo electric truck front three quarterAdvertisementAdvertisementTelo electric truck mini electricTelo electric truck off-roadTelo electric truck outdoorsTelo electric truck rearAdvertisementAdvertisementTelo electric truck renderingTelo electric truckTelo subcompact electric truckTelo electric truck toyota tacomaAdvertisementAdvertisementTelo electric truck side profileThe company says production of the MT1 will start this year, but don't expect a massive outpouring of cars. For now, the company is hand-assembling vehicles in its San Carlos, California headquarters. Marks points out that the components they're using are often made on highly automated lines, though, and just need to be fitted together for final assembly. The structural body-in-white, for instance, is made by established Tier 1 automotive supplier Schwab in the Detroit area.Still, the company has a lot of growing to do before it can reach volume assembly. Its bet hinges on Americans getting excited about the MT1. They pitch it as an attainable electric alternative to gas trucks, which have gotten too large to be practical in urban environments. The kei-truck-inspired MT1 aims to offer urban and fleet buyers the same bed size as a Tacoma, better towing, better payload capacity, and a similar price: roughly $42,000 to start, or $46,000 if you want all-wheel-drive. More Telo StoriesTelo Says Its Tiny EV Truck Can Tow More Than A Base Ford F-150Telo's Tiny Electric Truck Moves Closer To Reality With An Important New PartnerSlate Vs. Telo: How The EV Truck Startups Stack UpThe Telo MT1 May Be Tiny, But It's Still Built For Hard WorkIt's a compelling pitch. As a mostly urban EV fan who wants something that can easily haul bikes and camping gear but still park on crowded streets, I certainly get the appeal. But I'm an EV blogger in California, hardly a stand-in for the average truck buyer.AdvertisementAdvertisementTelo is convinced that it can show Americans a smarter, more practical way, wrapped in a cute package. I'm interested to see if they can pull it off. Contact the author: [email protected].