Scout Motors is "On Course and On Plan."

source: Scout

That was the big takeaway from an Automotive Press Association briefing with Scout Motors Inc. CEO Scott Keogh. With numerous rumors circulating over the past several weeks, Keogh told the audience that early prototypes will begin rolling off the line this year, with production vehicles launching in 2027 and in owners’ hands in 2028. Those early prototypes—which Scout could have had constructed at a 3rd party supplier – will help get workers familiar with the product. That’s critical because when you’re launching a brand-new product on a brand-new architecture in a brand-new plant, anything you can do to ensure first-class quality will make a difference.

There are still unanswered questions about some of the more technical aspects of the new Scouts, which will eventually be addressed with the reveal (at some unspecified future point) of a rolling chassis. There’s only one other production vehicle that boasted a comparable EREV configuration (with a rear-mounted engine), and that’s the late (and sometimes lamented) BMW i3 REx. Keogh is confident that any technical issues have been addressed, and there are apparently drivable prototypes already around and about; he notes this configuration offers more manufacturing flexibility and lets the Scouts retain their sizable frunks. One issue not directly addressed is the range; the 150-mile EV range is comparable to that claimed by Ram and Jeep for their new EREVs, but the 500-mile total range is far short of the roughly 700 miles that Stellantis and Ford are claiming. That being said, Keogh also noted the EREV configuration allows for upgrades, e.g., increasing fuel tank size, changing battery chemistry, or modifying the range extender – so perhaps there is more news to come here.

Of the 160,000 reservations, 87 percent are for the EREV; that’s more than expected, but Keogh says they can adjust the mix at the plant to meet market needs. The Traveler SUV, which accounts for about 75 percent of the reservations, will hit the road first, with the Terra pickup to follow. Keogh believes that, as production ramps up, they can fill the 200,000-unit plant with Scouts but says (without confirming any rumors of an Audi off-roader) that other vehicles could be built there.

When asked about contingency plans tied to the lawsuits from VW Group dealers objecting to Scout’s direct sales strategy, Keogh was firm: “We are executing our plan.” Scout believes the direct sales approach offers a chance to better control the customer experience as well as the financials; in 2024, they cited a targeted 50 percent reduction in retail operations costs. There’s no official word yet on how many stores will be open at launch; their 2024 presentation included a target of 25 stores in 2027 and 55 in 2028, so those numbers are obviously subject to change.

Finally, Scout addressed several future-focused points:

• Keogh hinted at additional variations derived from the two launch entries, as well as the potential to expand down-market into lower-priced, higher-volume segments. I suspect a three-row, long-wheelbase Traveler is next, although a short-wheelbase two-door open-air variant could be rather fun.

• With Chinese automakers adding more off-road-capable trucks and SUVs to their portfolio, and with an existing market for bigger trucks in the Middle East, I asked about export considerations. Scout is, for the moment, focusing on the U.S. first, and then Canada – but isn’t ruling out other opportunities at some point in the future.

• There is an opportunity in the commercial space—Keogh says the trucks’ zonal architecture affords a number of opportunities—but that’s not in the immediate plan. Certainly, a ‘work truck’ variant of the Terra would be appropriate at some point to compete against comparable GM, Ford, and Ram models.

The bottom line, of course, is whether this will work. Yes, there are challenges: the aforementioned clean-sheet architecture and greenfield plant. Arguably, the latter allows Scout more freedom to build exactly what they needed, versus the work Tesla and Rivian needed to do to adapt existing facilities. But Scout has the backing of VW Group, which helps address the funding concerns of a typical startup. They also have an existing American brand, unlike Toyota and Nissan, which have both struggled in the U.S. full-size market. Finally, EREV capability, body-on-frame construction, zonal electrical architecture (which both Ford and GM are working on), and actual switches (instead of a screen-heavy interior) seem likely to ensure a highly competitive entry against the next-generation of Ford, GM, and Ram trucks (all due around the time the Scout launches). Let’s hope there’s room for one more player on the field.

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