Volkswagen today enjoys a dominant position in China and Europe, where it continues to be the leading group in sales rankings. However, The United States still resists him. Given that it has a lot of room for growth in that region, doubling its current market share has been set as a priority objective.
One of the key pieces to achieve this is scout. This name was used on a popular SUV produced from 1960 to 1980 by the International Harvester Company, a manufacturer that ended up in the hands of the Volkswagen Group in 2020 through its Traton truck unit. As a result, the German company now owns the rights to Scout, which will become a new brand in its portfolio.
Although at first the possibility of using Foxconn or Magna to manufacture Scout vehicles was studied, Volkswagen has finally made the decision to build a new plant in Columbia (North Carolina) to take advantage of the state subsidies contemplated in the Inflation Reduction Act of the Biden administration.
The factory will start operating in 2026, and only 100% electric vehicles will leave its lines. The facilities, which will have a capacity of 200,000 units per year, will directly employ some 4,000 people. The first Scout models will be an SUV and a pick-up, both with real capabilities off roadwhich leads us to think that they will use a chassis with stringers and cross members.
Scout will be a full-fledged brand within the Volkswagen Group
Although it is still a while away from its launch, Scout will present two concept cars as an advance at the end of this year. The firm has already shown a series of teaser of both models, which will have an adventurous and casual aesthetic, in keeping with their new motto “The world needs more scouts.”
Scout’s SUV will rival the ford bronco and Jeep Wrangler, two SUVs that will receive their own electric versions in the short term. The truck for its part could have a similar approach to the Jeep Gladiator, so it is surely smaller than the typical half ton pick-ups (Chevrolet Silverado, Ford F-150, RAM 1500…).
“Electrification provides a historic opportunity to enter the highly attractive pickup truck segment as a group. […]which underlines our ambition to become a relevant player in the US market.”he stated at the time Herbert Diessformer CEO of the Volkswagen Group, in relation to the return of Scout.
