So the rumor was true: Volkswagen will launch a Scout subdivision to offer two rugged, pure electric vehicles for the North American market. The two vehicles will be an SUV and a pickup truck, both intended for off-road use. In other words, the German giant wants a piece of the adventure pie, a trend that has been gaining momentum in recent years.
Herbert Diess, Volkswagen’s CEO, indicated on Wednesday, May 11 that the North American wing, after a successful 180-degree turn on this side of the Atlantic, would take advantage of this opportunity to consolidate its position in one of the markets where growth for EVs is very high. The principal also indicated that the market for rugged electric pickup trucks and SUVs was very attractive to the group, which really wants to make its mark in the North American market.
Volkswagen will therefore launch an independent company to bring the Scout name back to the forefront. It’s easy to understand why Volkswagen acquired the Navistar division last year, which owned the rights to the Scout brand. Volkswagen’s senior management also indicated that they intend to show prototypes as early as next year and that production would be planned for 2026.
Herbert Diess also mentioned that he had given the Scout brand mandate to Scott Keogh, the CEO of Volkswagen USA. This mandate to introduce Scout in the U.S. and Canada should be completed before the end of the decade.
Arno Antlitz, CFO for Volkswagen Group, also commented positively on the German automaker’s announcement, confirming that the size of the full-size segment represents an opportunity to achieve higher sales with a small number of models. The return is greater with this business model according to him.
It remains to be seen whether the manufacturer will follow a retro strategy for this Scout lineup, which includes a 4×4 and a pickup truck. Let’s bet that the International Scout still has some value with adventure driving enthusiasts.
