TELO Trucks: A Promising EV Pickup with a PR Problem?

Five years ago, startup EV brands were everywhere—Tesla, Canoo, Rivian, Lordstown, and more. Fast forward to today, and only a handful have managed to stay consistently active. Now, a new player has entered the scene: TELO Trucks, introducing a compact adventure-ready EV pickup.

The MT1 boasts impressive specs, including a 500-horsepower all-wheel-drive variant, a 0-60 mph time of just 3.5 seconds, and a 1,700-pound payload capacity—making it more than capable for everyday tasks.

The excitement around this small but mighty pickup is evident among auto journalists, with publications and influencers sharing new images and insights across social media. However, when we tried to find more details on TELO’s official website, things took an unexpected turn.

A visit to www.telotrucks.com revealed no recent updates on the pickup truck. In fact, the brand’s press page hasn’t been updated since August 5, 2024. This is surprising, considering TELO is actively encouraging potential buyers to place deposits for reservations. Yet, the most up-to-date images and details seem to come from third-party reviewers like TFL, rather than the company itself.

For a startup, funding is always a challenge, but investing in a proper PR team seems like a no-brainer—especially when drumming up excitement for a new vehicle.

So, what do you think? Does the idea of a small, utilitarian EV pickup interest you? Could TELO carve out a successful niche, or is this another Canoo—a startup with promise that struggles to reach the finish line? Drop a comment and let us know your thoughts!