Volkswagen’s Scout Motors brand has unveiled a new electric SUV and truck that will be produced beginning in 2027, reports Reuters.
The Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra pickup will have a fully electric model and an extended range model that will come equipped with a small gasoline engine to recharge the vehicle’s high voltage battery.
While Scout was originally intended to be solely EVs, but decided to offer the extended range version due to concerns from drivers about recharging abilities. The fully electric versions will have up to 350 miles of range on one charge, while the extended range models will have 500 miles.
With a $2 billion factory currently under construction in South Carolina, Volkswagen is planning for production of the Scout vehicles to begin in 2027, with over 200,000 vehicles expected to come out of the plant annually.
Upon release, prices for the Traveler and Terra will start at under $60,000. In line with automakers like Tesla and Rivian, Scout will conduct direct sales and services for its customers, rather than utilizing a traditional independent dealer network. Scout CEO Scott Keogh is expecting there to be around three dozen U.S. retail centers initially, with that number eventually growing to 100.
Keogh compared the Traveler SUV to that of a Land Rover Defender, a Toyota Land Cruiser, and a Ford Bronco, all combined into one. The company is aiming to make the vehicles feel more traditional, opting for more mechanical switches over high-tech features.
“They want real switches, they want a door handle they can move,” said Keogh in reference to U.S. consumers. “It has that love and nostalgia from the '60s and '70s with the high-tech stuff.”
