US fires back against new Chinese utes: A new type of workhorse is being prepped that could change the utes we drive for good as Slate Truck and Telo MT1 firm for production to battle Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz and new Chinese utes

The American car industry's resistance is forming against the new breed of Chinese autos, but it's from an unlikely source.

Over the past month or so Chinese brands have revealed a mass of new dual-cab utes destined for any market that will take them.

Now the US auto industry has responded with a pair of futuristic utes of its won.

These utes aren't the jumbo-sized pick-up trucks we expect from the US, but rather small, electric and practical workhorses aimed at inner-city residents.

The first is the Slate ute, backed by Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, which makes it likely to succeed. 

It’s a little ute in the mold of the Ford Maverick and Hyundai Santa Cruz that have been lighting the US sales chart on fire.

It’s cheap, practical and all electric.

The next is from a new start-up named Telo, dubbed the MT1. 

Its a bit more futuristic looking. It’s the size of a Mini Cooper with a big battery and a tray almost as big as a ute such as the Toyota HiLux.

Jay Leno gave us a first hand look at the MT1 via his YouTube channel. 

In the video Telo boss Jason Marks said the MT1 was inspired by Japanese Kei cars and the mini trucks that are so popular in a country where space is at a premium.

The MT1 makes the most of the space it has on offer with next to no front bonnet, with all the space reserved for the cabin and load lugging area.

Clever design aspects such as an opening mid gate to help extend the cargo area boost its practicality. Even with a standard tray length of about 1500mm it’d be easy enough for tradies to lump all their tools in the back.

Part of the MT1’s appeal is the massive 106kWh battery pack, which provides a driving range of more than 560km. Telo has apparently developed a proprietary technique designed to squeeze the cells into a small space.

It will also be pitched at lifestyle applications with the ability to head off-road.

Telo has just built a near production prototype, but it is believed sales could commence, in the US at least, as early as the end of this year.

This type of vehicle makes a lot of sense for electrifying utes. Bigger vehicles are less efficient and require too much battery and electric motor power to perform their daily duties.

Smaller EVs on the other hand will always prove more efficient thanks to their lower weight and this is where the MT1's clever packaging comes into play. It makes the vehicle function like a much bigger light commercial without the drawbacks of additional weight and size.