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Volkswagen Group launches Scout brand to build electric pickup and SUV for US market

The Volkswagen Group plans to launch an electric pickup and “rugged SUV” in the US market. What’s more, the company will establish a separate, independent company to produce the new EVs. “The vehicles will be designed, engineered, and manufactured in the US for American customers,” says VW.

Volkswagen will resurrect the Scout nameplate, which was used by International Harvester for a Jeepesque off-road vehicle in the 1960s and 1970s. The idea seems to be to produce an electric truck aimed at off-road enthusiasts, like the Rivian R1T. Volkswagen’s concept drawings of a pickup and SUV that look similar to Rivian’s offerings.

VW North America COO Johan de Nysschen has that he’d like to see something similar to the Rivian, but “at a $40,000 price point instead of $70,000.”

The Scout brand will be spun off into its own company with up to $1 billion in initial investment from VW, and could eventually be listed a separate public company, according to the WSJ.

“The company we will establish this year will be a separate unit and brand within the Volkswagen Group to be managed independently,” said Volkswagen CFO Arno Antlitz. “This aligns with the new Group steering model—small units that act agilely and have access to our tech platforms to leverage synergies.”

“The electrified Scout brand will be built upon a new technical platform concept which brings new pickup and RUV credibility beyond the existing Volkswagen Group portfolio,” says VW.

The first prototypes are to be unveiled next year, and production is scheduled to start in 2026.

“After Volkswagen’s successful turnaround in the US, we are now taking the opportunity to further strengthen our position in one of the most significant growth markets for EVs,” said Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess. “Electrification provides a historic opportunity to enter the highly attractive pickup and R-SUV segment, underscoring our ambition to become a relevant player in the US market.”

Source: Volkswagen Group, Wall Street Journal, Electrek, TechCrunch

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