Scout Motors Unveils a More Rugged Terra Pickup and Announces Canadian-Sourced Batteries

• Volkswagen’s Scout Motors division will use batteries sourced from PowerCo in Ontario.

• The Terra Pickup and Traveller SUV will be electric vehicles with an optional gasoline range extender.

• The latest concept version of the truck features 37-inch all terrain tires and other off-road-ready items.

Ahead of its market launch, set for 2027, Scout Motors has unveiled a new concept version of its Terra pickup and announced that its EVs will use batteries made in Canada.

Created by the Volkswagen Group, Scout Motors is a tribute to the capable International Scout 4×4 of the 1960s and 70s which will produce a range of rugged electric pickups and SUVs starting in 2027.

Seen as a direct competitor to Rivian, Scout motors will distinguish itself by offering its EVs with a gasoline-range extender option (named Harvester, in another nod to the brand’s heritage) that should make it more popular with rural buyers and those interested in off-roading and overlanding, as full EVs can lead to range anxiety when venturing away from civilization.

While early data suggested the range extender (EREV) was much more popular than the full-EV version, the brand’s CEO, Scott Keogh, said during the IAA Mobility show in Munich that demand appears balanced for both models in key markets.

The brand’s latest concept would definitely benefit from a range extender, given the tires it is rolling on.

Indeed, Scout unveiled another concept version of its Terra pickup showing what can be done to make it more capable off-road.

The modifications start with massive 37-inch all-terrain K03 tires from BF Goodrich wrapped around 18-inch Clutch wheels that are sure to help it get about on unpaved surfaces, at the expense of range.

Other changes include slimmer side steps that shouldn’t catch on rocks or trees when maneuvering around tight trails, a bull bar with integrated tow hooks and shackles, along with a roof basket that can carry gear for longer escapades.

Chase lamps are also included on said roof basket in order to facilitate nighttime off-roading and a cargo box can be added in the bed for more covered storage.

Inside, this concept is clad in grey leather with terracotta upper seat, door, and dashboard accents, with a burlap-inspired headliner and weathered hemp-wood accents on the doors and the dashboard. A physical compass is suspended from the overhead console, which also includes a few toggle switches.

The Silo Green metallic exterior paint colour also makes its first appearance on this concept.

In parallel, Scout Motors announced it will award the contract for its battery supply to PowerCo, another Volkswagen Group subsidiary, which is currently building a $7 billion Canadian factory in St. Thomas, Ontario.

Scout Motors is building its own assembly plant in Blythewood, South Carolina, and it says it will be in a position to optimize North American parts content in its vehicles, which has a renewed importance given the uncertainty regarding tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on automotive components made outside of the United States.

While the batteries will be coming from Canada, Scout Motors might benefit from tariff exemptions if it complies with CUSMA (USMCA) rules, if those aren’t significantly modified before the Terra and Traveller enter production in late 2027.

Volkswagen PowerCo Ontario Battery Plant Finishes First Phase

The company says it has now awarded a majority of the parts and materials contracts for its first two vehicles, but we don’t have more details about these deals.

The Scout brand was conceived from the start with a strong focus on the North American market, but the company’s CEO doesn’t exclude exports to other markets, most notably Australia. This will have to wait after the American launch, however, and no such plans are currently in place.

It is worth noting that the company’s Blythewood assembly plant is about 220 kilometres (135 miles) from Charleston, which is one of the main ports from which automakers export their vehicles.

Since the Canadian PowerCo factory will be Volkswagen Group’s only battery manufacturing location in North America, it will also supply the Chattanooga, Tennessee plant that currently produces the Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV.

Source: Yahoo! Finance