McLaren P1 Designer Takes On REO's Boxy $21,500 Trucks and SUVsAutoblogJacob OlivaWed, September 23, 2026 at 2:15 PM UTCAdd us on GoogleAutoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.A Decorated ResuméWith a portfolio that includes the McLaren P1, Ferrari F430, Fiat 500, the original BMW X5, and the modern MINI, Frank Stephenson is one of the automotive industry's most recognizable designers. Now, the veteran designer is stepping into a very different kind of project: helping shape a new lineup of affordable American trucks and SUVs.REO Industries has announced that Frank Stephenson Design will shape its upcoming Runabout family. These trucks and SUVs are set to start at just $21,500, with a focus on keeping things simple, tough, and easy to fix. Landing Stephenson is a big win for REO as it tries to bring the legendary REO name – originally founded by Ransom Eli Olds – back to life.REO IndustriesA Legendary Designer Takes on REO's RevivalStephenson's resume covers everything from pint-sized hatchbacks to poster-worthy supercars. Now, his studio is sketching up all three flavors of the REO Runabout: the T4X work truck, T4C crew cab, and S4C SUV.AdvertisementAdvertisementREO founder and CEO Zach De Bernardi said bringing Stephenson on board is a major milestone as development moves into the detailed design stage. REO says it's ditching the touchscreen obsession that's taken over the industry. Every major control in the Runabout will get its own honest-to-goodness switch, button, or lever – no endless menus or digital guesswork.These trucks are made for people who want to work on their own vehicles. REO says you can remove body panels and trim in less than five minutes using only basic hand tools. The powertrain is designed to last up to 500,000 miles. Another key feature is no parts pairing, so you won't have to worry about replacement parts not working because of software locks.Stephenson says his team was excited to join the project because REO wants vehicles that are simple, reliable, and long-lasting. REO plans to share design previews soon, with a full digital reveal later this year. If everything goes as planned, pilot production will start in 2027, and the first deliveries are expected by late 2028 or 2029.REO IndustriesREO's Repair-First PhilosophyREO says the Runabout platform is built for the long haul, with future upgrades in mind. Every Runabout will have spots ready for next-gen autonomous hardware, so you can keep your truck up to date without swapping the whole thing.AdvertisementAdvertisementREO is also rolling out what it calls an open-source parts ecosystem. Approved makers can sell compatible replacement parts straight through REO's online marketplace. Plus, the company will publish its own parts catalog with clear pricing and a 20-year guarantee that you'll actually be able to get what you need.All of this fits REO's big pitch since day one: build a truck regular folks can actually fix themselves, instead of being stuck at the mercy of dealership-only repairs. So far, over 32,500 people have already put money down for a Runabout, and you can still get in line with a refundable $25 deposit.REO IndustriesREO Takes Its Right-to-Repair Push to CongressREO says it is bringing its repair-first approach beyond its vehicles and into legislation. The company has asked the US House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to restore three right-to-repair rules before the House votes on the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act of 2026.These requests include making sure owners and independent repair shops have access to diagnostic and calibration tools, banning parts pairing and software locks that block compatible replacement parts, and creating a formal FTC complaint process with a required response time.AdvertisementAdvertisementREO says its trucks will meet these standards from the start, offering easy-to-understand diagnostics, no subscription or feature locks, no parts pairing, and a public parts catalog with a 20-year availability guarantee.REO IndustriesThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Sep 23, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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