Telo raises its tiny electric truck’s tow rating to 8,000 lbs

Telo, the startup building a compact electric pickup, has raised the truck's towing capacity to 8,000 pounds, up from the 6,600 pounds it previously advertised. The MT1 is small by truck standards, about the length of an electric Mini Cooper, but the company says months of real-world testing showed it can pull more than its size suggests. That puts it roughly in line with a base gas-powered Ford F-150.

The higher number matters for a specific reason: a new wave of travel trailers now come with their own batteries and motors that help push themselves, cutting the load on the vehicle towing them. Many of these powered trailers weigh between 6,000 and 8,000 pounds, so the new rating makes the MT1 usable with them. Telo already demonstrated this by towing a 5,800-pound electric camper trailer. The company also points to advantages electric trucks have when towing generally: they can use regenerative braking to slow down on long downhill grades without wearing out their brakes, and their instant torque makes it easier to start moving uphill with a load attached.

The MT1 starts at $41,520 and Telo is targeting first deliveries in late 2026. For homeowners weighing options, it's a notable entry because it claims serious towing power in a much smaller, cheaper package than other electric trucks on the market. But it remains an early-stage product from a small startup, so the towing figures and other specs are worth watching to see if they hold up once the truck actually reaches buyers.