The Tiny Pickup From Tesla Veterans Just Out-Towed the Cybertruck

California startup Telo has spent three years quietly refining its compact electric pickup, simply called the MT1. The result has exceeded expectations. This little truck, roughly the length of a MINI Cooper, can tow a 7,716-pound trailer. For comparison, the much larger Tesla Cybertruck is rated to tow 7,500 pounds.

The MT1 challenges the traditional American idea that bigger is always better. It combines the footprint of a city hatchback with the passenger space of a five-seat pickup and a 4.9-foot bed. Fold down the rear wall of the cabin, and the truck can also carry 8-foot sheets of plywood.

Heavy-Duty Capability in a Compact Package

The real magic, however, is under the hood. In its dual-motor configuration, the MT1 produces 500 horsepower, accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in four seconds and uses a 106-kWh battery. Its range reaches 348 miles, while its curb weight is just under 4,400 pounds. That gives it enough towing capacity to pull a trailer weighing nearly twice as much as the truck itself.

Telo Chief Technology Officer Forrest North, who worked as a battery engineer on the original Tesla Roadster, explained the secret. The powerful electric motors provide immediate torque from a standstill, while regenerative braking helps control a heavy trailer on downhill sections.

The hitch is also positioned as close to the rear axle as possible. That shortens the leverage arm and reduces the amount of weight the trailer puts on the front of the truck.

North himself acknowledges that a traditional diesel tow vehicle remains hard to beat for long-distance trips. For shorter outings with new-generation “smart” trailers equipped with their own battery packs and solar panels, however, he considers the MT1 an ideal option.

Price and the Tesla Connection

Telo and Tesla have plenty in common. In addition to North, Telo's board includes Tesla co-founder Martin Eberhard, who has invested in the startup twice.

There are also rumors that Eberhard is unhappy with the direction Tesla took with the Cybertruck and backed Telo as an “anti-Cybertruck.” Unlike the $25,000 Slate, the Telo MT1 is positioned as a more serious vehicle.

The entry-level rear-wheel-drive version produces 300 horsepower and has more than 249 miles of range. Pricing starts at $41,520. The all-wheel-drive version costs about $50,000.

Telo plans to build its first 500 trucks by the end of this year, although skeptics point out that delays are common among automotive startups.

If Telo manages to put the MT1 into series production, the market will get a distinctly unusual pickup that aims to deliver substantial capability without taking up the space of a full-size truck.