Scout Motors on Thursday introduced it has damaged floor on a $2 billion plant in South Carolina that might finally produce as much as 200,000 EVs per 12 months.
The power in Blythewood, “close to main cities and expertise hubs,” can be close to the ports of Charleston and Savannah, and it’s doable {that a} portion of the plant’s output will probably be exported. Scout is sticking to the late-2026 manufacturing begin that it revealed final 12 months.
Scout revives a model fashioned round nostalgia for vehicles made by Worldwide Harvester from 1960 to 1980—and the model seems to have introduced a whole assortment of classic Scout automobiles out for the opening.
The fashionable Scout lineup will embrace vehicles (pickups) and “rugged SUVs,” with “a newly designed all-electric platform, engineered to ship credible functionality and off-road prowess, with a concentrate on floor clearance, method angles, sturdy axles, payload capability, all-electric vary, and new digital options.”
Something Scout Classic Racing Group’s 1976 Scout Terra
A report final 12 months, citing Scout CEO Scott Keogh, famous that the primary product from the model will probably be a “rugged utility car,” or RUV, whereas a bigger electrical pickup will observe quickly after.
Scout gained’t be a luxurious model, and its merchandise gained’t be priced as such. Because the CEO emphasised in that interview, beginning Scout EV costs will probably be within the $40,000 vary.
Teaser for contemporary Scout electrical SUV and pickup
Teaser for Scout SUV idea
Teaser for contemporary Scout electrical SUV and pickup
The model has launched little different information but about these merchandise or the platform. In response to a November report, VW was contemplating turning to Austria’s Magna moderately than utilizing its personal engineering and improvement assets. The model notes that within the U.S., it’s hiring. Like the remainder of the VW Group within the U.S., it is dedicated to the Tesla NACS cost connector.
Volkswagen introduced Scout in 2022 as a model underneath the management of the dad or mum firm, not VW of America—permitting the house for a distinct direct-sales mannequin. Introduced on the peak of heightened demand for EVs, it was an entire shock to VW’s U.S. sellers, who had reportedly been asking for an electrical truck. The VW model’s solely U.S. EV stays the ID.4, though the ID.7 hatchback and long-awaited ID.Buzz electrical van are each arriving quickly.