Not lengthy after an Austrian publication reported on Volkswagen’s partnership with Magna Worldwide to develop Scout’s first two autos, Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh spoke to Automotive Information and offered some refinements on the event and the timeline. Earlier this yr, Scout employed Chris Benjamin as lead designer, Benjamin’s 25 years within the auto enterprise together with six years at Fiat Chrysler/Stellantis overseeing inside design for Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram. Keogh instructed AN, “The design of the product is, I would say, 85, 90, 95 percent of the way there. … Proportions readily dialed in, exterior design dialed in.” The cabin’s a bit additional out, however he expects to sit in a full-sized inside mannequin this week.
We’re instructed the Scout Motors headcount is available in round 300 and positive factors roughly 50 heads monthly. Along with pulling in-house engineering expertise from the VW Group tribe, like Scout chief technical officer Burkhard Huhnke, the corporate raided the headcounts of different OEMs together with our huge home names, plus Tesla and Rivian.
Early mules are anticipated to roll out of locked garages early subsequent yr, in all probability across the identical time Scout breaks floor on its manufacturing facility in Blythewood, South Carolina — Keogh confirmed Magna is not going to construct the rigs. These prototypes will trip on the Scout-specific, ground-up chassis developed with Magna’s help, however that the CEO described as a “100 percent capable, American, robust, full platform.” It has handed all of its exams on paper and in simulations, subsequent yr’s street trials will start the proof.
The debut’s deliberate for Q3 of 2024. Keogh stated the SUV would be the first one to market as a result of Scout was most recognized for being “a rugged SUV brand.” The complete-size pickup truck is not due in the marketplace till an estimated six or seven months after the SUV, so we count on we’ll solely see the SUV for subsequent yr’s unveiling. That may give Scout only one product to publicly handle and time to gauge reactions. In view of manufacturing beginning in late 2026, neither car may be anticipated to search out U.S. properties till early 2027.
Earlier this yr, Scout reaffirmed its dedication to a $40,000 SUV as the primary mannequin — we’re undecided if VW’s figuring the present $7,500 incentive into that worth. We’ll be impressed if there’s ever a aggressive Scout offered at that $40,000; a four-door 2024 Ford Bronco begins round $41,000, the value chief 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 begins at about $40,000. By creating Scout as a discrete firm promoting electrical autos, we count on Scout plans to skip a standard dealership community and far of the overhead concerned. Nonetheless, three extra wild years away from seeing the primary a Scout window sticker, $40,000 appears like a extremely low bar to limbo underneath.
