Scout’s electrical SUV debuts in 2024, might be priced in $40,000 bracket

Volkswagen Group’s new Scout Motors rugged EV model on Friday confirmed plans for a $2 billion manufacturing facility in South Carolina as a result of start producing automobiles in 2026, beginning with an electrical SUV focusing on a base value of round $40,000.

Positioned about 20 miles from the state capital of Columbia, the manufacturing facility is projected to supply 200,000 automobiles yearly when at full capability, and can create at the very least 4,000 everlasting jobs.

The primary Scout mannequin below VW’s aegis, to be unveiled in 2024, might be a “rugged utility car” or “RUV,” Scout CEO Scott Keogh mentioned in an interview with TechCrunch. Keogh, who leads the electrical Scout resurrection after a stint as head of the VW Group in North America, mentioned the utility car might be adopted “in fast succession” by a bigger electrical pickup truck.

Within the interview, Keogh additionally mentioned the utility car will goal a base value within the $40,000 vary, whereas the pickup might be “a bit north of there.”

These plans roughly match what VW mentioned final Might when it introduced the Scout model. That announcement included plans for an off-road pickup and SUV impressed by the Worldwide Harvester Scout, a basic off-roader produced from 1960 to 1981. VW acquired the rights to the Scout identify with its buy of Navistar, a successor firm of Worldwide Harvester, in 2020.

The rollout could also be barely delayed, nonetheless. VW initially mentioned prototypes of the Scout fashions can be proven in 2023, though the 2026 launch date for the SUV has remained constant. Additionally constant is the styling, clearly influenced by the unique Scout, which seems unchanged in a teaser picture launched alongside the manufacturing facility announcement.

VW has mentioned the Scout automobiles will trip on a brand new platform, which can possible be essential in serving to them match different electrical off-roaders just like the Rivian R1S and R1T, and the forthcoming Jeep Recon. There are rumors fellow VW Group model Audi may launch a rugged SUV, maybe utilizing the Scout’s platform.