Last year, rumours began to circulate that Volkswagen was considering the resurrection of the Scout brand, for which they had just gained the commercial rights. Today, VW’s advisory board has approved a proposal detailing a “spin-off EV company” under the Scout nameplate.
The independent company will be formed this year and based in the US, and will focus on the design, engineering, and manufacturing of Scout vehicles for the US market. Prototypes are planned for next year with production starting in 2026. A pickup and SUV will be built on a new, dedicated EV platform.
Volkswagen Scout teaser
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.”
International Harvester Scout
The Scout was a rugged 4×4 vehicle from the 1960s and 70s, available in pickup and SUV form and built by International Harvester. Volkswagen acquired the Scout name when its Traton truck division took over Navistar International, the descendant of International Harvester, in 2020.
In the past, Johan de Nysschen, the Chief Operating Officer at Volkswagen Group North American, stated that he’d “like to see something similar to the Rivian, but at a $40,000 price point instead of $70,000”.
