TELO Motors has announced a significant upgrade for its compact MT1 electric pickup, increasing its maximum towing capacity to 8,000 pounds. The new rating gives the tiny truck a higher tow limit than the standard Tesla Cybertruck, despite occupying a footprint similar to a two-door Mini Cooper.
The revised figure comes after extensive development and real-world testing, according to TELO co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Forrest North. The company says the additional capability opens the door to towing a wider variety of travel trailers and recreational equipment.
Beyond the towing announcement, TELO also revealed a major manufacturing milestone. The startup has partnered with Michigan-based Schwab Industries to produce the truck’s body-in-white structure as it moves closer to production.
Although the MT1 remains one of the smallest electric pickups in development, TELO believes its compact size, dual-motor powertrain, and robust chassis allow it to deliver capabilities normally associated with much larger trucks.
Small Size, Big Towing Numbers
When TELO first introduced the MT1, the company targeted a towing capacity of more than 6,000 pounds before later raising that estimate to 6,600 pounds. Following additional engineering work and towing evaluations, the company now says the truck can safely tow up to 8,000 pounds.
That gives the MT1 a higher tow rating than the standard Tesla Cybertruck, which is rated to tow 7,500 pounds. Higher-spec Cybertruck variants still lead the segment with an 11,000-pound maximum towing capacity, but TELO’s achievement is impressive considering the MT1’s dramatically smaller dimensions.
The compact pickup weighs just over 4,000 pounds, meaning it can tow nearly twice its own weight. According to North, the truck’s short rear overhang and hitch placement close to the rear axle help improve stability when pulling heavy trailers.
Electric Power Offers Towing Advantages
North says the dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain provides instant torque, making steep hill starts much easier than in many conventional trucks. Unlike combustion-powered vehicles that need to build engine speed before producing peak torque, the electric motors deliver maximum pulling power immediately.
The company also highlighted regenerative braking as a major advantage while towing. TELO says the system can continuously recover energy on long downhill grades while helping slow both the truck and trailer, reducing reliance on the friction brakes.
Fast charging also plays an important role in the truck’s towing capability. According to TELO, the battery can accept high charging rates while also handling the substantial energy demands created during towing and regenerative braking.
Production Plans Continue To Advance
Alongside the towing update, TELO announced a manufacturing partnership with Schwab Industries. The Michigan-based supplier will build the MT1’s body-in-white structure, which forms the core steel framework supporting the battery, suspension, crash structures, and exterior body panels.
The company says it spent considerable time validating crash performance before finalizing the production design. TELO wanted to ensure the truck met its internal targets for side-impact, frontal, rear, roof-crush, and oblique crash protection before committing to manufacturing.
Schwab Industries brings decades of experience producing stamped steel components for both the automotive and aerospace industries. TELO believes the partnership is an important step toward moving the MT1 from prototype to full-scale production.
Compact Truck, Ambitious Goals
The MT1 is expected to launch with two powertrain options. The base version will use a single electric motor producing around 300 horsepower with an estimated 260 miles of driving range, while the dual-motor all-wheel-drive model will offer approximately 500 horsepower and up to 350 miles of range.
One of the truck’s biggest selling points is its packaging. Despite being roughly the same overall length as a two-door Mini Cooper, the MT1 offers seating for five passengers, a five-foot cargo bed, and a midgate that extends cargo space to eight feet when needed.
TELO currently aims to begin production before the end of the year, although startup automakers frequently face development delays. If the company stays on schedule, the MT1 could become one of the most capable compact electric pickups to reach the market.
Would you choose a compact electric truck with an 8,000-pound towing capacity, or would you still prefer a traditional full-size pickup? Let us know in the comments below.