Volkswagen Group will launch an all-electric pick-up and ‘rugged’ SUV in the United States under the Scout brand.

Scout was originally a brand created by International Harvester – a US manufacturer of agricultural and construction equipment amongst other products – and its Scout range of 4WD recreational utility vehicles (R-SUV) and pick-ups were a fixture of the 1960s and 1970s. Through a series of divisional sell-offs and mergers, the company became Navistar, which is now a subsidiary of the VW Group.

The new Scout vehicles will be designed, engineered, and manufactured in the U.S. for American customers, and a separate, independent company will be established. VW says the first prototypes are to be unveiled next year, and production is scheduled to start in 2026. The electrified Scout brand will be built upon a new technical platform concept.

“After Volkswagen’s successful turnaround in the U.S., we are now taking the opportunity to further strengthen our position in one of the most significant growth markets for EVs,” said Herbert Diess, CEO Volkswagen AG. “Electrification provides a historic opportunity to enter the highly attractive pick-up and R-SUV segment as a Group, underscoring our ambition to become a relevant player in the U.S. market.”

VW says success in the R-SUV and pick-up segments is a key lever to increasing profitability in the U.S. and achieving a targeted market share of 10 percent.

Source: Motor Trader e-Magazine (June 2022) 

7 June 2022