VW to revive the Scout brand to make EV pickups and offroad vehicles
The Scout brand will be back to make, develop and sell rugged EVs with production expected to start by 2026.
VW has jumped on the bandwagon of making new rugged vehicles electric, and have chosen to do so while also reviving an iconic American carmaker in the form of Scout. Scout will be formed as an independent company which will manufacture pickups and rugged SUVs for the American market.
The design, manufacturing and engineering will all also take place in the US, and VW have confirmed that they will be looking to make Scout its own separate brand. The first prototypes are set to be unveiled next year, with production beginning in 2026. The vehicles will be built on a new, separate platform, which is expected to give more SUV and recreational utility vehicle (RUV) credibility beyond the vehicles that VW already makes. The image outlines shown in the above image showcase VW’s intention to make both a standard SUV as well as a pickup, whose prototypes should be with us in 2023.
“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.”
“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.”
-Herbert Diess, CEO, VW
VW believes that the RUV market is an enticing one, especially in the US. Two sketch designs have also been released publicly, which give a slight idea as to what can be expected in the future. However, it will face tough competition from the likes of Hummer, Rivian and Ford, all of whom have already launched their rugged EVs and others like GM are also set to launch their rugged EV soon. With the vague timeline of “next year” for the reveal of their first prototype however, there’s enough time and more to start up the speculation bandwagon as to what we can expect!
