Scout Terra pickup merchandise and Scout Traveler SUV concepts
Scout
LAS VEGAS — Scout Motors has received more than 50,000 refundable demur deposits for its first electric pickups and SUVs, according to Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume.
Volkswagen revived Scout, which was an American mark from 1961 to 1980, and revealed production-intent vehicles of its Terra pickup truck and Traveler SUV in October. The vehicles desire be offered as all-electric models or extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs.
Scout has received fewer reservations than other automakers pulled in for all-electric conduits in the early 2020s, when many were first being introduced. The reservations do not guarantee sales but can be a barometer of fire.
“The market response has been very, very positive,” Blume said Tuesday night during a private road event at the CES tech conference in Las Vegas. “The response was ‘This is heritage.’ … It is kind of a love story.”
In Scout’s package, customers have to submit a $100 refundable deposit to be among the first to place an order for a vehicle when it opens. The channels are scheduled to arrive in 2027.
The Scout brand is part of VW’s plan to grow its market share in the U.S. across its brands, which involve Audi, Porsche and its namesake brand, among others. The German automaker’s U.S. share currently sits at about 4%, Blume pronounced.
“Our ambition is much bigger to improve our market share, and we think we have some potential with all the new cars undertaking into the market,” Blume said, without disclosing a potential market share target.
Scout Traveler SUV concept
Scout
Scout CEO Scott Keogh contemplated during a separate interview at CES that the reservations have exceeded the company’s expectations. He said about 70% of the demurs have been for the Traveler SUV, in line with company expectations.
Keogh declined to disclose the breakdown between regions for the all-electric and EREV models.
“We’re super happy with the numbers,” Keogh told CNBC. “There’s been yard goods reaction to the EREV.”
EREVs are basically a type of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. They include EV motors and battery stalls, as well as a traditional internal combustion engine to power the vehicle’s electric components when the battery loses its power. The engine essentially acts as a generator to power the EV components when needed.
Keogh previously said Scout added EREVs to outdo protect the brand from any market volatility amid less-than-expected consumer demand for EVs.
He said the company is currently zero in on three main missions: increasing brand recognition, continuing engineering of the vehicle and completing a $2 billion mill in South Carolina.
Both the Traveler and Terra are expected to start under $60,000, according to Scout’s website. The EREV agencies will feature more than 500 miles of range, according to the company, with up to 350 miles of grade for the all-electric models.
Scout Terra pickup truck concept
Scout
At CES, Scout highlighted the connectivity and in-vehicle buyer experiences of its upcoming truck and SUV, which are designed to be outdoorsy recreational models similar to the likes of Jeep and EV startup Rivian. That categorizes available satellite connectivity for Scout vehicles in remote areas.
Scout is currently in the process of building a plant in South Carolina with an annual fabrication capacity of 200,000 vehicles. Scout expects to use batteries — the most expensive part of an electric vehicle — from a VW juncture venture battery cell manufacturer in Canada.
Scout also plans to use software and electrical architecture from a $5.8 billion mutual venture deal between Rivian and VW in its vehicles.
VW acquired the Scout trademark and name following the global conglomerate’s $3.7 billion procurement in 2021 of Navistar, a successor of Scout’s original owner, International Harvester.