Scout EV: the Rivian-fighting E-truck VW
The Scoop: why VW is resurrecting an old name for its new electric pick-up truck. VWGroup is resurrecting an ancient name for a rough ’n’ ready electric pick-up, says Georg Kacher.
THE SCOOP — Insider
REVIVING A HERO
The International Harvester Scout was one of the first SUVs – a cult classic in the ’70s and ’80s in North America and a name that still gets respect today. VW Group is reviving the name for a new brand of vehicle: the ‘rugged’ e-SUV and e-pick-up which will be designed, engineered, built and sold entirely in the region.
ELECTRIC TWINS
The Scout EV brand, led by former VW North America head Scott Keogh, plans to include an SUV (codenamed SC416) as well as the pick-up truck (SC417). The aim is to use the new PPE platform that’ll be used in the coming years across myriad VW Group brands and products to make the initiative more cost-efficient.
A FIERCE MARKET
Particularly in North America, the electric truck market is heating up fast. Rivian’s R1T, GMC’s Hummer EV and Ford’s F-150 Lightning are already on sale and, if Tesla pulls its finger out, the Cybertruck could be another contender. VW thinks it can stop the American brands having the market to themselves by acting now.
THE RINGS WANT IN
Audi boss Markus Duesmann has pondered ‘a bulletproof zero-emission premium pick-up tailor-made for the great outdoors.’ Audi partnering up with Scout would make the business case for such a model stack up. It could take a visual lead from the RS Q e-Tron Dakar racer and command a price premium over the Scout.
Expect an SUV, a pick-up and maybe a Dakar-themed Audi version.
FACTFILE TECH
- POWERTRAIN Two electric motors, up to 469bhp, all-wheel drive
- CHASSIS Steel and aluminium monocoque
- DUE 2026