Many of you have been reaching out with questions about Scarab and where things stand: Are we still in business? What’s going on? Why have lead times increased?

The short answer is yes—we’re still here, still building, and still just as dedicated to delivering top-quality, affordable mods for your Toyotas. But the truth is, the last year has been one of the most challenging in our history.

2024 was our best year to date. Sales were booming, dealer partnerships were thriving, and for the first time Scarab became a full-time operation for its owners. We expanded our team, brought on skilled staff, and were charging forward. But as many of you know, growth often comes with unexpected turns.

Late last year, we said goodbye to a co-owner whose departure left a big hole in our small team (don't worry, he didn't die, just needed a new direction). Almost overnight, we lost half our fulfillment capacity and much of our customer communication. Meanwhile, we were still operating out of a garage—pushing to meet higher order volumes while struggling to keep up and maintain the standards you expect from us. Lead times doubled, sometimes tripled, and we know that left many of you frustrated. It was not a moment we’re proud of.

At the same time, an outside business partner approached us with the idea of acquiring Scarab. On paper, it looked like the shot of resources and capacity we needed to thrive. But after months of talks and heavy investment of time, money, and trust, the deal collapsed. What was meant to be a lifeline turned into another MASSIVE setback.

Since then, Scarab has weathered three relocations, rising material costs, and the strain of running leaner than ever. Today, “we” is really just me—Tristan, Owner & Founder—with occasional help from close friends in the industry. A skeleton crew compared to last year.

But this isn’t a sob story. It’s transparency. Scarab is still here. We’re still building. And we’re not going anywhere. If anything, these challenges have shown us what we’re made of. Scarab was never about getting rich—it was about building affordable, dependable gear for the Toyota community. That hasn’t changed.

I’ve been burning the midnight oil to cut lead times and restock your favorite products. Ask anyone close to me—I’m up at all hours pushing orders out and designing new gear.

To everyone who has stuck with us through delays, uncertainty, and frustration: you have my deepest gratitude. Your patience and support are the reason Scarab is alive today—and the reason it’ll be stronger tomorrow.

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

— Tristan Ricci, Owner & Founder