Scout Motors

The Scout brand was conceptualized in 1959 by International Harvester. Production on the first Scout vehicles began in December 1960, with the first Scout vehicle sold as a 1961 model year called the Scout 80. The off-road, "8-day-a-week": International Scout vehicles, were produced from 1961 to 1980.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025|reason=previous external link did not support this}}

In September 2021, a report by MotorTrend revealed that Volkswagen AG may look to revive the Scout nameplate as a potential competitor to the Jeep Wrangler, Toyota 4Runner, and then newly revived Ford Bronco.{{Cite web|last=Evans|first=Scott|date=September 20, 2021|access-date=May 12, 2025|title=Volkswagen May Bring Back the International Harvester Scout |url=https://www.motortrend.com/news/volkswagen-international-harvester-scout-ev |work=Motor Trend}} On May 11, 2022, Volkswagen AG approved plans to form a new, independent company dedicated designing, developing, manufacturing, and marketing electric vehicles in the United States.{{cite web |last=Doche |first=Audric |date=12 May 2022 |title=Volkswagen va lancer un 4x4 et un pick-up électriques ! |url=https://www.automobile-magazine.fr/voitures-electriques/article/33875-volkswagen-va-lancer-un-4x4-et-un-pick-up-electriques |publisher=L'Automobile Magazine}}{{cite news |last=Golson |first=Daniel |date=May 11, 2022 |title=Volkswagen Revives International Scout as US-Built EV Truck and SUV |url=https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/volkswagen-international-scout-ev-revival-off-road-pickup-suv/ |work=CNET}} Scott Keogh, previously President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America Inc. became the first CEO of Scout Motors, Inc.{{cite web |last=Trop |first=Jaclyn |date=2022-07-20 |title=Volkswagen's US CEO steps down to lead its Scout EV brand |url=https://techcrunch.com/2022/07/20/volkswagens-u-s-ceo-steps-down-to-lead-its-scout-ev-brand/ |access-date=2024-01-03 |website=TechCrunch}}

On October 24, 2024, Scout Motors debuted two new vehicle concepts: the Scout® Traveler SUV and Scout® Terra truck during its national reveal event just outside Nashville, Tennessee.{{Cite web|date=October 25, 2024|access-date=May 12, 2025|title=Scout Motors Officially Reveals Traveler SUV, Terra Truck; All Electric, All Rugged |url=https://motorweek.org/this-just-in/scout-motors-officially-reveals-traveler-suv-terra-truck-all-electric-all-rugged/ |work=MotorWeek}} The event brought together Scout enthusiasts, automotive historians, and industry and media professionals. Attendees were greeted by a display of International Harvest Scout vehicles, including the first and last production Scout vehicles.  

During the event, Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh presented the company’s vision for the brand’s future, focusing on its legacy of exploration and community. The event included the unveiling of the new Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra truck concepts and the announcement of a “Harvester” range extended concept that uses a small gasoline engine for generating usable electricity in the vehicle.{{Cite web|last=Bell|first=Lucas|date=October 24, 2024|access-date=May 12, 2025|title=Scout Motors Reveals Electric Traveler SUV, Terra Pickup with Optional Range Extender Engines |url=https://www.roadandtrack.com/news/a62707763/scout-motors-traveler-suv-terra-pickup-truck-ev-optional-range-extender/ |work=Road & Track}}

Scout Motors also declared it will sell directly to customers and service vehicles itself, following the model adopted by competitors Tesla, Rivian and Polestar, rather than use a franchise dealer network. As Scout Motors does not, and has never had, franchise dealers, it is not bound by the franchise dealer system and can maintain a direct, customer-centric relationship with Scout vehicle owners. The National Automobile Dealers Association responded that it would challenge this decision using legal and political means, and filed a lawsuit on February 3, 2025, alleging violations of state law.{{cite news |date=25 October 2024 |title=Auto dealer groups to challenge Scout Motors' decision to sell directly to consumers |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/25/auto-dealer-groups-to-challenge-scout-motors-decision-to-sell-directly-to-consumers.html |access-date=28 October 2024 |publisher=CNBC News |agency=Reuters}}{{cite news |last=George |first=Patrick |date=25 October 2024 |title=Why Scout Motors Said No To Dealers, And Why They're Already Mad |url=https://insideevs.com/news/738792/scout-motors-dealer-challenge-sales/ |access-date=28 October 2024 |website=Inside EVs}}{{Cite news |last=Fitzgerald |first=Jack |date=February 6, 2025 |title=Volkswagen, Audi Dealers Sue Scout Motors over Sales Model |url=https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a63667883/volkswagen-audi-dealers-scout-motors-lawsuit/ |work=Car and Driver}}

On November 12, 2024, Scout Motors announced it would utilize a [https://support.scoutmotors.com/en/articles/10128887-how-will-the-volkswagen-and-rivian-joint-venture-affect-scout-motors new zonal architecture] built by the Volkswagen Group-Rivian joint venture (Rivian and VW Group Technology, LLC) in their vehicles to complement their Scout Community UX, i.e. interface system.

In January 2025, Scout Motors made its first major trade show appearance at CES 2025 in Las Vegas.{{cite web |title=Scout Motors Announces In-Vehicle Satellite Connectivity |url=https://www.worktruckonline.com/10233839/scout-motors-announces-in-vehicle-satellite-connectivity |website=www.worktruckonline.com |access-date=19 March 2025 |date=3 January 2025}}

On March 3, 2023, Scout Motors announced plans to build a $2 billion factory capable of producing 200,000 vehicles a year in Blythewood, South Carolina.{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Tim |date=2023-03-03 |title=VW-backed Scout Motors to build $2B factory in South Carolina |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/03/vw-backed-scout-motors-to-build-2b-factory-in-south-carolina/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}} The factory is targeted to employ more than 4,000 people{{cite web | last=Trainor | first=Chris | title=The Scout electric vehicle plant in the Midlands will hire 4K workers. Where will they come from? | website=The State | date=2023-03-07 | url=https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article272795105.html | access-date=2024-01-03}} and it will manufacture the Scout Motor's first two vehicles: the Scout Traveler™ SUV and Scout Terra truck that are scheduled to launch in late 2027.{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Tim |date=2023-03-03 |title=How Scout Motors plans to bring rugged, retro cred to the EV era |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/03/03/how-scout-motors-plans-to-bring-rugged-retro-cred-to-the-ev-era/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US}}

In May 2025, Richland County was fined $3 million dollars for violating state pollution rules at the under-construction Scout Motors site in Blythewood. The S.C. Department of Natural Resources claims the land is being cleared too rapidly resulting in excessive sediment pollution to nearby wetlands. If the county addresses the issues by set deadlines, the fine could be reduced to $1 million.{{cite news |last1=Hughes |first1=Morgan |last2=Fretwell |first2=Sammy |date=May 6, 2025 |access-date=May 12, 2025|title=Richland County hit with $3 million fine for pollution at Scout Motors site |url=https://www.thestate.com/news/local/article305839491.html |work=The State (newspaper)}}

While the Production Center is under construction, the company’s Production, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams call the temporary BullStreet District office home in Columbia, South Carolina.{{Cite web|access-date=May 12, 2025|title=Careers |url=https://www.scoutmotors.com/careers |work=Company Website}}

In December 2023, Scout Motors announced it would open its first R&D facility in Novi, Michigan sometime in 2024. The Scout Motors Innovation Center is now fully operational and home to the growing Product, Design, and Engineering teams and members of cross-functional support teams.

The Scout Motors Corporate Office in Fremont, California, is home to the Growth, Software Engineering, and User Experience teams.

The Scout Motors Corporate Office in Tysons, Virginia, is the current home to its corporate functions, including Legal, People, and Finance teams.

Scout Motors debuted two concepts on October 24, 2024, one of which is the Terra, a pickup truck, and the other is the Traveler, an SUV. They are expected to release in late 2027 as a 2028 model.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-24 |title=2028 Scout Traveler SUV and Terra Pickup Have Retro Charm, Range Options |url=https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a62699830/2028-scout-traveler-terra-revealed/|access-date=2024-10-24 |last=Miller |first=Caleb |website=Car and Driver |language=en-US}} Reservations are currently available in the United States and Canada.{{Cite web |title=In which countries are reservations currently available? {{!}} Scout Support |url=https://support.scoutmotors.com/en/articles/10034698-in-which-countries-are-reservations-currently-available |access-date=2024-10-28 |website=support.scoutmotors.com |language=en}}

{{reflist}}

• {{official website}}

{{Volkswagen Group}}

Category:Volkswagen Group

Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 2022

Category:Car brands

Category:Battery electric vehicle manufacturers

Category:Electric vehicle manufacturers of the United States

Category:American companies established in 2022