Meet the final drivable prototype of the Telo MT1 pickup truck, shaped by Fuseproject
The Telo MT1 is a modestly scaled EV that turns the traditional all-American approach to pick-up truck design on its head

We’ve been following the progress of Fuseproject’s ultra-compact Telo EV since the prototype broke cover 18 months ago. Yves Béhar and his team shaped a package that blended practicality with compact scale, offering a genuine alternative to the vast electric (and ICE) pick-up trucks that dominate the American road system. We liked the idea so much we even gave it a Smart Space Award in 2023.
The Telo MT
Eighteen months is a long time in politics, and it now feels like the Euro-scale, West Coast-infused anti-bloat simplicity of the Telo is very much an outlier in the current American cultural situation. That’s all the more reason to celebrate the arrival of the fully realised Telo MT1, a production-ready vehicle that has completed interiors and is also fully driveable.
The Telo MT1's dashboard, with an interior finished in the Slate colourway
Inside a Telo MT1 finished in the Slate colourway
Béhar says that designing an automotive interior is like ‘designing 50 different products, but they all have to fit together.’ The cabin mirrors the stripped back, purposeful but not overtly functional style of the truck’s exterior. Using materials like cork and aluminium paired with hard-wearing knitted textiles, the Fuseproject team have maximised light and storage, with plenty of hidden compartments and a retractable wireless charging tray.
The rear of the MT1 offers more space than conventional pick-up cabs
The MT1 will arrive first with two just colour palettes, a blueish Slate and a more earthy Shadow, rather than the deluge of choices offered by rivals. The digital dashboard isn’t too dominant, with a special metal bezel feature designed to focus the eye on the information that matters. There’s also a simple dial in the centre of the dash for quick access to temperature and other adjustments.
The digital dashboard features a metal bezel element to focus the eye
‘The bezel reduces the need for the driver to search for functionality or information and increases safety,’ Béhar says, ‘This is something I have experienced while driving with screen-based interfaces where even after many years in the same vehicle, I am still searching for the information on screen.’
The MT1 (bottom) will be joined by a minivan version
The MT1 provides seating for five with four doors and a 60” pick-up bed at the rear of the truck. Telo reckon the MT1 should be good for a range of 350 miles, while the power rating is equivalent to 500hp. A more minivan-shaped body style will also be available in due course.
The Telo MT1 is pitched at the classic Californian lifestyle
The Telo MT1
Having co-founded Telo with CTO Forrest North and CEO Jason Marks, Yves Béhar has been determined to help shape an electric vehicle that makes a difference, both in terms of its scale and footprint and the environmental impact of the materials and processes used to make the car itself. ‘We designed the future of utility transportation by maximizing every inch to provide comfort without compromising performance or capability,’ Béhar says, ‘TELO brings more features, space, and practicality than any other vehicle on the road today.’
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Size matters: the Telo MT1 goes up against a Toyota Tacoma (top) and a Mini Cooper
As seen here, an oft-quoted stat is that this five-seater pick-up truck is practically identical in size to the two-door Mini Cooper. In contrast, a traditional pick-up, in this case a Toyota Tacoma, dwarfs the diminutive Californian.
Order books are open now – here’s hoping the Telo MT1 brings transformation to an industry in need of a silver lining.
Telo's compact EV will be available soon
Telo MT1, from $41,520, TeloTrucks.com, @TeloTrucks
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
A24 just opened a restaurant in New York and it’s as cinematic as you’d expect
In the West Village, Wild Cherry pairs a moody, arthouse sensibility with a supper-style menu devised by the team behind Frenchette
-
Yinka Ilori’s new foundation is dedicated to play and joy: ‘Play gave me freedom to dream’
Today, artist and designer Yinka Ilori announced the launch of a non-profit organisation that debuts with a playscape in Nigeria
-
Benjamin Moore's 2026 colour of the year is here — and it's a perfect balance of 'comfortable and chic'
Silhouette AF-655, a soft mocha-charcoal hue, draws inspiration from classical suiting and timeless interiors
-
A new American airline hopes to bridge the worlds of private aviation and business class
Magnifica Air’s Airbuses have acres of space, private suites and white-glove treatment for your precious luggage, coming soon to a route near you
-
Avatr Vision Xpectra concept transforms cars into ‘emotionally intelligent companions’
Revealed in Munich, electric car maker Avatr’s futuristic Vision Xpectra is a car that is not only beautiful, but a true form of ‘emotive luxury’
-
Dacia wants to make small cars great again – all hail the new Hipster Concept
The best way to minimise energy use in all its forms is to downsize. The Dacia Hipster Concept is a smart way of making a practical car way more pint-sized
-
The Vanderhall Brawley GTS is a compact but mighty electric off-roader
Deliveries of Vanderhall’s Brawley GTS have started, bringing zero-emission trail driving to enthusiasts across America
-
The Aemotion is a tilting two-seater designed to zip through city traffic
An electric commuting machine, the Aemotion provides swift, safe and enclosed transport for two
-
You can now buy Toyota’s robotised micro-bus, with more autonomy coming soon
The Toyota e-Palette is the urban transport of the future, a multifunctional autonomous vehicle designed to cover several roles in the same day
-
Is the MG Cyberster an electrifying sports car or a hefty grand tourer? In truth, it’s a bit of both
MG returns to its roots, sort of, with a sporting two-seater that electrifies the sector and points to a bolder design future for the Chinese-owned brand
-
The Audi Concept C strives for clarity, drawing on the past to present a new face for the future
Launched this month in Milan, the Audi Concept C is a reboot of both design language and visual identity for the German manufacturer