Volkswagen is aiming to revive the Scout brand with a new series of battery-powered trucks and SUVs that will rival GM’s own off-roader EVs. Now, reports indicate that VW is looking to build the upcoming Scout EVs at a new location in the U.S.
According to Reuters, as reported via Automotive News, VW CEO Herbert Diess recently indicated that the German automaker was investigating both brownfield sites and a few greenfield sites within the U.S. in consideration for the assembly location of its upcoming range of all-electric Scout pickups and SUVs. Additionally, the report states that VW CFO Arno Antlitz will not rule out an eventual share listing for the Scout brand, although Antlitz added that it was too early to make a final decision on the matter.
As GM Authority covered previously, VW is aiming to make Scout its new EV-centric North American sub-brand under the broader Volkswagen umbrella. The first models sold under the new Scout brand will be an all-electric pickup truck and a large SUV.
Volkswagen acquired the Scout brand with the purchase of American truck manufacturer Navistar International Corp. in 2020. Navistar was established in 1986 as a continuation of International Harvester, which manufactured the International Scout body-on-frame SUV, sold between 1960 and 1981.
Notably, the new line of Scout EVs is unlikely to have much in common with the current Volkswagen lineup, at least from a mechanical standpoint. As such, the Scout EVs will require a separate manufacturing facility, machining, and tooling.
Designs for the new vehicles are still forthcoming, and although it’s not clear yet which segment the vehicles will compete in, reports indicate that they could be midsize, rather than full-sized. Additionally, VW reportedly expects to sell upwards of 250,000 units annually under the new Scout EV sub-brand.
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Comments
Westmoreland..(runs away).
Considering that this week, at the world economic forum our global build back better elites were sounding the alarm on “the people pushing back” VW really should reconsider their BEV plans.
Even Blackrock, the worlds #1 hedgefund in solar, and buddy buddy with China slave mills has said that vision 2030 is unrealistic in an attempt to bring back their investors who are leaving in droves.
VW will be hard pressed to find investors for this venture, much less land.
You tell em.
Whatever southern state puts the most money on the table.
Marshall, Michigan. It was the runner up for the VW plant that went to Chattanooga and Michigan has a bunch of money set aside for large industrial development.
I live in Georgia. Hyundai just today announced a second plant to build EVs here. It’ll be built just outside of Savannah. They’ll be spending $6.5 billion. Rivian is coming to Georgia too. I think the transplants prefer a right-to-work state. My prediction would be on Tennessee again getting the second VW plant.
Michigan is now a right-to-work state. Never count the UAW out, but Rick Snyder’s administration got rid of union shops.
How about one of those shuttered gm plants lol.
I was thinking the same thing, with GM’s long-term plans seeming to be around becoming an auto importer, rather than a US manufacturer.
I think the Scout concept is great although I’m not sure it should be an all-EV enterprise. Unfortunately SUVs have been where all the sales are and VW has been somewhat left out with just its soft-roader Touareg, Tiguan, and Atlas. The Scout brand focused on the heritage of that line similar to the new Bronco could prove quite successful. They should develop a tougher, more masculine line for Scout maybe mimicking Jeep.
I’m not sure all EVs are going to be where the off-road market is in the near-term especially if we have a change in leadership in Washington, which we inevitably will, that allows the market to naturally transition rather than heavily incentivizing electrics. I would expect by the time Scout is launched, the DC climate will have undergone a pendulum shift again. That issue notwithstanding though, a reborn Scout has, I think, great promise.
The old Scout still looks GREAT! It’s exciting that the name might be revived on a modernized version.
Aiken County South Carolina is ready and waiting.
Fair Play/Seneca, Oconee County, SC, right on I-85 between Charlotte and Atlanta, port of Charleston nearby, Greenville,SC nearby, plus executives have access to nice home and properties on the lakes. Plus the Blue Ridge R/R and NS R/R meet in the county.
Commerce GA and the battery factory are close by, as well.