VW to revive Scout brand as an all EV automaker

Some of you may be familiar with the Scout vehicles from the olden days when the model was produced by International (Harvester). It's ruggedness was a forgone conclusion coming from a manufacturer of mostly farm equipment. The example below can be found on BarnFinds where the vehicle is for sale (at the time of posting). The Scout was a smaller vehicle compared to the utes of today. It was more of a competitor for Ford's first Bronco. Bur Volkswagen acquired the rights to the Scout from a merger/buyout and the automaker plans to launch the Scout EVs (truck and SUV) in the US from a stand-alone division. Production will come from a plant in the US (VW's still looking for sites) with technology borrowed from the rest of VW's portfolio. The first prototypes will be revealed next year with eventual production in 2026, so if you need a new EV today...  Expect the Scout EVs to be sized for the US (read larger), so they may not be made available in other parts of the world. Obviously there is more to come. Click on "read more" below to view the brief media release. I've read rumors that VW may adopt the direct sales model for the Scouts, since US dealers are increasingly annoying customers with excess fees and mark-ups (especially with EVs), so that should be interesting.

Source: Volkswagen - Press release, pic (VW, BarnFinds)

Media Release:

Volkswagen Group to launch all-electric pick-up and rugged SUV in the United States

• Volkswagen Group plans to electrify iconic U.S.-brand Scout
• Independent company to be founded to design, engineer, and manufacture pick-up and rugged SUV (R-SUV) for the U.S. market
• Start of production planned for 2026
• Herbert Diess, CEO: “Electrification provides a historic opportunity to now 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.”

Volkswagen Group will launch an all-electric pick-up and rugged SUV in the United States. The decision of the Board of Management was confirmed today by the Supervisory Board of the Volkswagen Group.

The vehicles will be designed, engineered, and manufactured in the U.S. for American customers. To this end, a separate, independent company will be established in the U.S. this year as the Volkswagen Group moves the strong iconic U.S.-brand Scout into the electric vehicle space. 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 which brings new pickup and RUV credibility beyond the existing Volkswagen Group portfolio.

Herbert Diess, CEO Volkswagen AG: “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. 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.”

Success in the R-SUV & pick-up segments is a key lever to increasing profitability in the U.S. and achieving the targeted market share of ten percent. The Volkswagen Group is thus continuing to systematically expand its presence in one of the most significant global growth markets.

Arno Antlitz, CFO Volkswagen AG: “The company we will establish this year will be a separate unit and brand within the Volkswagen Group to be managed independently. This aligns with the new Group steering model - small units that act agilely and have access to our tech platforms to leverage synergies.”