Volkswagen’s Scout Brand Revival to be Built in United States
March 14, 2023Volkswagen has confirmed that their upcoming revival of the Scout Motors brand will be built at a new plant in Columbia, South Carolina.
According to Volkswagen, more than 200,000 thousand Scout vehicles are expected to roll off the assembly line every year, with production slated for sometime before the end of 2026. This news was tethered to the announcement of VW’s first North American battery cell factory, to be built in St. Thomas, a city in Ontario, Canada.
The Scout brand isn’t just seeing a revival by VW’s hands– more like a defibrillation, as the historic nameplate is being brought back to life via electrification. We’re expected to see fully-electric entries into the truck and SUV segments. According to the release, the “Scout vehicles are being designed and developed from the ground up on a new all-electric platform that emphasizes off-road capability.” Scout Motors, while backed by VW, will work as an independent unit within the larger group.
Currently, Volkswagen operates one other assembly line in the United States, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. We had a chance to tour it, as well as a battery testing and research building, when we drove the localized ID.4 electric crossover. These endeavors are concrete proof of Volkswagen’s continued investment into North American activities, as well as providing further credence to their plans to introduce over 25 new BEV models through 2030.
Aside from some concept images, little is known about the upcoming Scout models. We’re eager to see what they’re all about, and we’ll bring you all the latest here on MotorWeek.