As a foreword, Volkswagen CEO Herbert Diess stated: “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.”
A recent tweet subsequently appeared which is aimed solely at the American market; the Volkswagen Group has made mention that it will produce an all-electric pick-up and rugged SUV under the Scout brand with production starting in 2026. Rather than the badge engineering which is so prevalent in the collection of automotive brands under their umbrella, a press release has stated that a completely new and independent company will be established which is tasked solely with creating the vehicles for this brief. Volkswagen CFO Arno Antlitz stated that: “The company we will establish this year will be a separate unit and brand within the Volkswagen Group to be managed independently.”
This means that before 2026, the company will be established, design and engineering teams will get working on prototypes and production-spec vehicles and production will start in four years time – German efficiency will prevail to ensure these deadlines are met, we are certain. The establishment of the company will take place later this year, with prototypes scheduled for both bakkie and SUV in 2024. Volkswagen states that operations for the Scout brand will be based in the US although intended production for these novel creations is still unknown.
The original International Harvester Scout which was built throughout the 60s, 70s and 80s was available as either a small SUV (before the segment became a thing) or a bakkie however International Harvester became defunct in 1985 and was left for the books of history until the Volkswagen group acquired the brand through its Traton heavy truck group in 2020. Here is a custom 1979 Harvester Scout which has been resto-modded rather tastefully.
Keyword: Volkswagen reboot Scout brand and tease EV bakkie and SUV