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Volkswagen Group made enormous waves just a few years in the past when it introduced the revival of the commemorated Scout identify for a brand new totally electrical truck and SUV that will be inbuilt America. Yesterday I traveled to Blythwood, South Carolina, to witness the groundbreaking of Scout’s new manufacturing facility, which will probably be constructed on a 1,110-acre plot of land and start manufacturing in 2026. After the ceremony, our group of journalists acquired to take a seat down at a roundtable with Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh and head of manufacturing Dr. Jan Spies to study extra in regards to the new Scouts, the ability and the corporate’s philosophy as an entire.
Keogh begins by speaking about how the unique Worldwide Harvester Scout “principally invented the class that turned the American SUV,” mentioning that even the Scout identify was mimicked by different SUVs that got here after. “Scout means to go first — then you definitely had the Explorer, and 4Runner, and Discovery, and Blazer and Trailblazer,” says Keogh, “it’s just like the Godfather, it’s the prototype, it’s an excellent place to start out. Even when you’ve by no means heard of it, ‘Scout’ is a optimistic factor and has a that means for itself.”
The brand new Scouts will trip on a bespoke body-on-frame platform that’s not shared with every other Volkswagen Group merchandise, which Keogh says was the results of numerous debate. “From a design perspective, it means that you can set the proportions up nicely aesthetically,” he says, “we need to construct one thing that’s extremely sturdy and extremely succesful.” Keogh provides that the body can have a “good resolution for executing the battery idea,” however doesn’t go into any additional particulars. Magna Steyr, the corporate that manufactures the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, will help with the Scout’s growth. As for whether or not the platform might be utilized by different manufacturers sooner or later, Keogh says there are at the moment no plans, however the risk is there.
The Volkswagen Group has 660,000 workers worldwide, however Scout is working like every other startup, with round 350 workers at the moment. The place being part of the VW umbrella turns into most helpful is within the manufacturing course of. Parts will probably be shared with Scout wherever doable, and having a provide base already in place is a big boon. In contrast to different startups, Scout is ready to get higher offers by way of commerce and part sourcing due to the backing of VW, which is able to cut back total prices and assist with tempo. “As a pure startup, if we wished to place a plant collectively, we wouldn’t be the place we’re at this stage. It’s permitting us to execute a very good tempo versus at all times following the prescribed path,” Keogh says. “What are the issues that we will take off the shelf and never reinvent the wheel, and what are the issues we will differentiate on and make an actual distinction? We need to press our benefit right here.”
However make no mistake, the Scouts’ design, engineering and powertrains will probably be distinctive to the model, and even the manufacturing facility itself is not like different VW amenities. “This isn’t a twin, or brother or daughter to any of the platforms that we’ve ever had,” says Spies, “after I buy manufacturing tools for Scout, I take technical specification expertise, however not elements or elements of factories or the assemblies from every other plant. This can be a drawback by way of velocity, however an enormous alternative to actually ship the vehicles that need to be distinctive for the market.”
To that finish, it was vital that the Scout’s design, platform and specs be created particularly with the American market in thoughts. The VW Group has a excessive market share in China and Europe, however its footprint is way smaller in the US. “Scout permits us to plunge into the 2 largest revenue swimming pools in America,” Keogh says, explaining that structuring the corporate as a clean-slate startup is the good factor to do, because it doesn’t inherit any of the legacy challenges.
In line with Keogh, the manufacturing Scout’s design is “hyper, hyper, hyper shut” to being completed and locked in, and the engineering is “possibly a tack or two behind.” What we’ll see get revealed this summer season gained’t be a whimsical idea car — Keogh says “we’re not going to be within the enterprise of displaying fanciful exploration that’s by no means going to get made — however there could also be just a few minor tweaks between the prototype present vans and the ultimate manufacturing autos. Most significantly, Keogh guarantees that “it’ll be superior.”
The brand new Scouts are being engineered with the aftermarket already in thoughts, too. Keogh acknowledges that aftermarket equipment are of giant significance to off-roaders, so Scout is already having conversations with manufacturers to associate with from soar with a manufacturing facility accessorization program, together with designing its personal equipment. “The important thing factor was to get all of it dialed in on the platform, so we’ve the software program and packaging prepared for no matter could also be arising,” Keogh explains, avoiding the pitfalls of ending a automotive after which making an attempt to make equipment work after the very fact.
Keogh goes on to speak about how Scout isn’t making an attempt to place itself in any particular market phase or aggressive set. “I view Scout a little bit bit like Levi’s, if you’ll,” he says, “Levi’s will be worn at Nobu in Malibu, and it may be worn on a worksite. It’s a cool, iconic American model.” He calls out the Bronco and Defender as being nice examples of “neighborhood autos” that aren’t simply one other generic SUV. “We’re not constructing one thing to navigate the strip malls of America, we’re constructing one thing to navigate America,” Keogh remarks, “it’s going to be a automotive with character, it’s going to be a automotive with persona.”
Greater than anything, Scout needs to verify the brand new vans are true to the unique model, and that they attraction to homeowners each previous and current. “If the neighborhood doesn’t assume you’re genuine, and grounded, and actual, then you definitely’re a poser. And when you’re a poser, it’s not going to work,” Keogh says. “If in case you have a mismatch between what the model was anchored in, and what you’ve put within the market, then that connection goes to be smelled out.”
Each the SUV and truck will probably be proven on the identical time, however they gained’t enter manufacturing in parallel — Spies says it’s by no means a good suggestion to start out a manufacturing facility that method, however they’re prepping for a fast ramp-up, so clients gained’t have to attend lengthy after the primary mannequin goes into manufacturing. The model’s plan at the moment solely contains the truck and SUV, however the manufacturing facility will be capable to deal with quite a lot of packages and derivatives, and Spies provides that “we’ve the chance to construct all of the concepts which are within the sketchbooks of our designers and advertising and marketing folks” due to the flexibleness of the ground-up facility. Ultimately the manufacturing facility will be capable to produce greater than 200,000 autos per yr and create 4,000 new jobs. Scout can be working with excessive colleges and faculties within the space to recruit and prepare college students for when the manufacturing facility is up and operating.
There’s nonetheless a ton we don’t but know in regards to the Scouts, and a few issues the model itself hasn’t discovered. Keogh says Scout hasn’t determined how the autos will probably be offered, whether or not it’s by dealerships or direct-to-consumer. Scout hasn’t mentioned something about vary or efficiency targets, how huge the autos will probably be or how a lot they may price.
It’s apparent that Keogh and the remainder of the Scout workforce are genuinely excited to construct the model and exhibit what they’ve been engaged on. “The dream of any model is to start out at day one with some momentum and a few love and a few neighborhood, and I feel we’ve labored actually arduous on that,” Keogh says. “It’s the possibility of a lifetime.”
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