Volkswagen’s New EV Brand Scout Will Take on the Ford F-150 and Jeep Cherokee

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Alfred Peru
VWs New EV Brand Scout Will Take on the Ford F150 and Jeep

Volkswagen is reviving the International Harvester Scout name for its electric pickup truck. Designed and built in the U.S., it will use Volkswagen’s modular MEB production system and compete against the Ford F-150 and Jeep Cherokee. Volkswagen plans to sell the Scout in the U.S. instead of in Germany, so it can make it cheaper for American consumers.

Volkswagen resurrects International Harvester Scout name for electric pickup truck

The Volkswagen Group plans to start producing electric pickup trucks using the Scout name by 2026 and aim to sell 250,000 of the vehicles in the U.S. annually. The Scout was originally developed by International Harvester back in the 1960s as an all-terrain family recreational vehicle. It was available in a variety of body styles, including SUVs. Its predecessors competed with the Jeep Wrangler and Land Rover, and many collectors still own the iconic SUVs. Volkswagen’s decision to bring the Scout name back to an iconic brand is a lucky accident for both the company and for its consumers.

The Scout name is a classic American brand, and Volkswagen is banking on it. The German automaker owns the name and trademark through its commercial truck division, but its resurrected version of the truck will be branded with the Volkswagen name. The Scout will launch in small numbers, but Volkswagen is determined to win over the consumer market. Volkswagen will be able to capitalize on this consumer sentiment as well as the company’s longstanding reputation.

EV-only brand to be produced in U.S. instead of Germany

While there are a number of reasons to produce EVs in the United States, a recent decision by General Motors is a notable case in point. The automaker, which produces cars under the Cadillac, Buick, and Chevrolet brands, has long been an advocate of EVs. It launched its first electric vehicle, the EV1, in the 1990s. It has since gone on to launch the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid, the Mini Electric, and Rolls-Royce E-V.

After announcing its intentions to create a new electric car company in the U.S., Volkswagen said it will invest $100 million in Rivian. The new company will sell electric vehicles exclusively in the US and be sold under the Rivian name. Rivian will also have different price ranges for its vehicles. Ultimately, the U.S. will be the best place for the brand to be launched.

It will compete with Ford F-150

Volkswagen is planning to unveil a prototype of its new electric vehicle brand, Scout, next year and begin production by 2026. While the brand’s plans are still vague, they include commercial vehicles. The vehicle will have a large interior, a compact drivetrain, and a convenient front trunk. Volkswagen is targeting sales of about 250,000 new Scouts per year in the U.S.

The VW Group is set to launch a dedicated EV company in the United States. The new brand, called Scout, will produce an all-electric pickup truck and a rugged off-road SUV. The brand name is a play on the original Scout SUV built by International Harvester between 1960 and 1980. VW has long wanted to sell pickup trucks in the U.S., but the pickup segment is competitive and Volkswagen has been a non-factor in this market.

It will be based on MEB modular system

Volkswagen’s new EV brand Scout will compete against pickups and SUVs, such as the Ford F-150 and Jeep Grand Cherokee. The company acquired the Scout brand name in 2021 from Navistar International, the successor to International Harvester. In pursuing electrification, Keogh saw an opportunity that rival automakers could not refuse. He saw a unique chance to create an entirely new segment of electric vehicles that will compete directly with existing pickup and SUV brands.

Volkswagen will introduce two new EVs under the Scout brand. One is a pickup truck based on a new platform. The other is a “rugged” SUV. Both vehicles will be produced on dedicated EV platforms. The concept sketches for the Scout EVs show a striking resemblance to the classic Scout pickup trucks from the 1960s and 1970s. Volkswagen plans to start producing Scout pickup trucks and SUVs in 2026.

It will be based on International Harvester Scout

Volkswagen’s new EV brand Scout will compete against the Jeep and Ford F-150, as well as other off-road trucks. VW plans to spin off the Scout brand in a separate company, with the company receiving $1 billion in initial investment and more from outside investors. It may even be listed on its own stock, if its prospects are good. The Scout will be built on a separate platform and not share it with the rest of the Volkswagen lineup. It would have a higher ground clearance and a more robust design. The new EV brand will be launched in the US by 2026.

The Scout will likely have its own platform and be built in a separate factory. It is not clear where it will be assembled, but the company is expected to build it in its own factories in the U.S., making it a global vehicle. VW also plans to have a modular electric drive kit to build the vehicle. However, there are still many questions about the exact design of the vehicle.

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