Delivery Risk: Medium - Timeline slipping from 2025 to 2026

Prototype Status: Active testing phase

Funding: Undisclosed - Startup risk

⚠️ Timeline Alert: Telo originally promised late 2025 deliveries but recent reports suggest this may slip to 2026

Key Specifications

Range

220 miles

Price

$45,000

Length

180 inches

Cargo Capacity

450 cubic feet

Payload

1,500 lbs

Perfect For / Not Great For

Ideal Use Cases

Urban Delivery

★★★★★ Perfect size for tight city streets and parking

Weekend Adventures

★★★★☆ Great range and clever midgate for gear

Light Commercial Work

★★★★☆ Impressive payload for the size

Not Recommended For

Heavy Towing

★★☆☆☆ Towing capacity not yet disclosed - likely limited

Large Family Daily Driver

★★☆☆☆ Compact interior, though seats 5

Company Health & Production Status

Production Progress: Telo has demonstrated working prototypes and recently began first ride testing

Overall Progress: 60% - Pre-production prototype phase

Metric	Status	Risk Level
Prototype Testing	✅ Active	🟢 Low
Manufacturing Partner	❓ Undisclosed	🟡 Medium
Funding Status	❓ Private	🟡 Medium
Regulatory Approval	⏳ In Progress	🟡 Medium

Manufacturer Website

Visit Official Website

Pricing Breakdown

Trim	Price
MT1 Standard Range	$41,520
MT1 Long Range	$45,500
MT1 Dual Motor	$49,999

Note: Prices may be eligible for federal EV tax credit of up to $7,500

The Reality Check

What's Going Right:

Working prototypes in testing
Innovative midgate design
Impressive payload-to-size ratio
Competitive pricing for features

Red Flags:

Timeline already slipping
No disclosed manufacturing partner
Limited transparency on funding
Unproven company in competitive market

Timeline & Milestones

2023-03

Pre-orders Open
Company begins accepting $152 refundable deposits

2022-09

Vehicle Announcement
Telo MT1 concept revealed

2022-06

Company Founded
Telo Trucks established

🔮 Bottom Line

The Telo MT1 represents one of the most intriguing concepts in the small electric truck space - essentially cramming full-size truck capability into a Mini Cooper footprint. The engineering challenges they've tackled with the midgate system and payload capacity are genuinely impressive.

However, this is still very much a startup with typical startup risks. The timeline is already slipping, and key details about manufacturing and funding remain opaque. While the $41,520 starting price is competitive, you're betting on an unproven company in a brutally competitive market.

Our Recommendation: If the concept excites you, putting down the $152 refundable deposit is low-risk. But don't count on seeing this truck in 2025, and be prepared for the possibility that it may never reach full production. For those needing a small electric truck soon, consider waiting to see more established options or looking at current alternatives like the Ford Maverick hybrid.

TELO EV