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VW’s Scout confirms $40,000 electric SUV, plans for $2 billion factory in South Carolina

Volkswagen’s new Scout Motors EV division on Friday confirmed that its first model will be a $40,000 electric SUV that will be built at a new $2 billion plant near Columbia, South Carolina.

Scout, the company that plans to build EVs that will certainly draw inspiration from the classic International Harvester Scout SUV built between 1960 and 1980, said in a press release that the plant will build production. 200,000 vehicles per year at full capacity and will create at least 4,000 permanent jobs.

The brand says ground breaking for the South Carolina plant is scheduled for mid-2023, with production expected to begin in late 2026. Scott Keogh, Scout’s CEO , said in an interview with TechCrunchthe “quick” serial is a larger electric pickup.

Teaser for Scout SUV concept

Teaser for Scout SUV concept

Keogh said the utility vehicle is aimed at a base price of around $40,000, while the pickup will be “a little bit further north”.

Both models will be launched in 2024. That could represent a slight delay. volkswagen announced Scouting in May 2022and then it said that the first prototypes would be on display in 2023. VW dealers were completely taken aback by the announcement, which effectively put them off for a long time. Tesla-like sales model. However, the 2026 production schedule remains consistent throughout.

Also consistent is the simple, squared styling. A trailer released by Scout alongside the factory announcement shows the shapes are generally similar to the sketches released by VW in 2022. That design language will help tie the Scout EVs together. modern with their 1960s inspiration.

1971-80 International Harvester Scout

1971-80 International Harvester Scout

Produced by International Harvester, a company primarily known for tractors and commercial vehicles, the original Scout was one of the first SUVs. VW acquired the rights to the Scout name when it bought its successor International Harvester Navistar in 2020.

Like the original, both Scout EVs will use a body-on-frame platform, VW has previously confirmed. The platform will likely be exclusive to Scout, but could borrow components from other VW Group platforms. The parent company does not exclude sharing the Scout platform with other brands—and it’s supposed to be possible with Audi.

However, with so many basic electric SUVs in the works — including the simpler Rivian R2 and jeep scout—will there be enough market when Scout arrives?



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