Volkswagen revives its Scout off-roader; in electric obviously, as a new brand

Volkswagen has announced the creation of a new brand for the United States, called “Scout”. It will be dedicated to all-terrain vehicles and electric pick-ups.

Volkswagen wants to ride on the flower beds of the Chevrolet Silverado EV and another Ford F-150 Lightning. The German car manufacturer has formalized the creation of a new brand called Scout: it will market a fully electric pick-up and an R-SUV based on a new all-terrain vehicle platform.

Start of production in 2026

The two vehicles will not hit the road immediately, since the start of production is scheduled for 2026. The firm will still present concepts in 2023. For now, we must be satisfied with the 2D representations below.

They reveal two racing cars with rectangular lines fitted with large tires and high ground clearance. But don’t expect to see these vehicles land in Europe anytime soon: they will be ” designed, engineered and manufactured in the USA for US customers “, specifies the press release.

In addition, Scout will not use Volkswagen’s MEB (modular electric platform) platform used for electric models in the ID range. The brand is responsible for developing a ” new concept of technical platform » for pick-up and SUV.

Scout, a name that fell into the hands of Volkswagen

For the historical anecdote, Scout is not a new name. It designated a vehicle marketed by International Harvester in the 1960s and 1970s. The manufacturer, whose favorite field was initially agricultural machinery, finally decided to retire Scout in 1980.

In 2021, Volkswagen completed the acquisition of Navistar International, formerly International Harvester, through its Traton heavy-duty division. The German firm has recovered the name Scout in passing.

Strengthen Volkswagen’s presence in the United States

Arno Antlitz, CFO of Volkswagen AG, says: “ The company we will create this year [Scout] will be a separate entity and brand within the Volkswagen Group and will be managed independently. This aligns with the Group’s new leadership model – small units that act flexibly and have access to our technology platforms to drive synergies “.

For his part, Herbert Diess, CEO of Volkswagen AG, warns: “ After Volkswagen’s successful turnaround in the US, we are now seizing the opportunity to strengthen our position in one of the most important growth markets for EVs. Electrification offers a historic opportunity to enter the very attractive pick-up and R-SUV segment as a Group, and demonstrates our ambition to become a major player in the American market. “.

Source : volkswagen