SUV and Pickup—First Two Models from All-new Car Company
North American automotive journalists were invited to Nashville, Tennessee. for the world reveal of the all-new, all-electric Scout Traveler SUV and Terra pickup. No driving these two hand-built prototypes (they looked nearly production ready) as their release date will be “in late 2027.”
Why the two-year delay since the specifications, designs, features and capabilities of these two very modern EVs would be a success now? Pretty simple. The Scout production center is still in the construction phase in Blythewood (near Columbia), South Carolina. The plant will encompass 1,100 acres and employ approximately 4,000 with what Scout says are wages and benefits 40% higher than the average in the surrounding area.
What is Scout Motors?
Scout Motors, established in May 2022, is owned by the Volkswagen Group, which obtained the Scout brand as part of its purchase of the American truck manufacturer Navistar International in 2021. Scout Motors is a US-based operation with its headquarters in Virginia, research and development offices in Michigan, and manufacturing in South Carolina.
Concepts Revealed
The Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra pickup were introduced as the reimagined sucessors to the original Scouts built by International Harvester from 1961-80. Scott Keogh, CEO and president, said: “Scout has made a tool for today that is fully capable as a playground for customers to play around with. They will be vehicles for work, play and for everything in-between…that are..rugged, versatile vehicles capable of off-road adventure and family duty.”
With a release date of two years from now, the two concepts shown could change. Therefore, take what we know so far and assume the final versions will be somewhere close in their specifications and capabilities. Clean Fleet Report will do news updates when more is known.
Scout Traveler SUV
- Dual electric motors driving all four wheels
- Torque: 1,000 pound-feet/Horsepower: N/A
- 0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds
- 350 all-electric mile range (estimated by Scout)
- 7,000- pound tow rating
- 2,000-pound payload
- Curb weight: N/A
- 148-inches long; 77-inches high; 91-inches wide
- Solid rear axle
- Body-on-frame construction
- Air suspension optional
- Front and rear mechanical lockers for off-road driving
- 35-inch tires; 1-foot of ground clearance; 3-feet of water fording capability
- Split tailgate
Scout Terra Pickup
- Dual electric motors driving all four wheels
- Torque: 1,000 pound-feet/Horsepower: N/A
- 0-60 mph: 3.5 seconds
- 350 all-electric mile range estimated by Scout
- 500 miles of range with the optional built-in, gasoline-powered range extender generator exclusively on the Harvester model
- 10,000-pound tow rating
- 2,000-pound payload
- Curb weight: N/A
- 229-inches long; 77-inches high; 91-inches wide
- Solid rear axle
- Body on frame construction
- Air suspension optional
- 5.5-foot pickup bed with 120V and USB-C outlets, one 240V outlet
- Front and rear mechanical lockers for off-road driving
- 35-inch tires; 1-foot of ground clearance; 3-feet of water fording capability
Charging
- Battery type and size TBA
- Charging: 350 kW capability
- 800-volt system
- Bi-directional charging capable
- North American Charging Standard (NACS)
Features: Interior
- Seating for five adults with a flat rear floor
- Dual LED displays
- Knobs and touch controls for the UX (User Experience) digital interface
- Durable and sustainable materials
- Front bench seat available
Features: Exterior
- Walk-up and walk-away, front and rear, lighting sequences
- Cabana folding top or glass roof options
- LED lights
Pricing
Pricing targets are around $60,000, plus delivery fee and taxes. With purchase and tax incentives the price will get close to $50,000. Obviously a lot can change in two years, but if Scout can deliver anything close to what we saw at the concept reveal event, they will have a winner on their hands.
Pre-orders are being taken, for a $100 refundable deposit, at ScoutMotors.com.
Scout-to-Consumer Sales and Service Model
The Scout-to-Consumer sales and service model is designed to create a one-to-one customer relationship for a consistent, fast, easy and predictable experience dealing with Scout.
This begins with their announcement of not going the traditional and conventional sales route with franchised dealers, but are adopting a direct-to-customer sales model. There will be 100 Scout “locations” by 2032 with 85%+ of them within 200 miles of targeted buyers. These facilities will mostly be stand-alone buildings and will also have service centers with factory-trained technicians.
Cody Thacker, VP growth, said there will be “transparent pricing” through their direct sales process. He gave “auto buying is slow and cumbersome, there is a lack of trust, and it is frustrating” as the basis for having more control over the sales process. The locations will be staffed with product specialists to guide consumers through the purchase process, but will not complete any on-site sales as that will all be done by the customer digitally via computer.
Service also will be digitized. Stuart Dixon, senior director, digital products, told us owners will utilize “AI with a next question menu to determine vehicle issues.” Through the Scout Motors on-line service portal and mobile app, owners will be able to diagnose and troubleshoot many vehicle issues, and then schedule a service appointment. For owners outside the 200-mile radius of a location, Scout will have mobile technicians go to the owner’s home.
The Scout Customer
Ryan Decker, head of strategy, told us, “Scout will be reaching an eight-day-a-week person that fits one of three megatrend marketing categories. “First, we have observed where people, after being cooped-up during the pandemic, are now wanting to get away and do new things that include the outdoors.” Second. “America is one of the only countries in the world that is de-urbanizing, where people are moving away from megacities and to midsize cities or even small towns.” Last. “The third trend we have observed is digital detox, for the lack of a better words. This is everything from vinyl record players and limiting social media time.”
Decker, summing up, said: “Putting all those three things together points to people typically needing a more capable vehicle. The brand intent and brass tacks of the product chops are what you really have to deliver upon. Scout will do that.”
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Story by John Faulkner. Photos by John Faulkner and Scout.
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