Volkswagen Group is stepping up its game in the U.S. with a brand tailored for truck models: Scout. A Scout electric truck (pickup) will be the inaugural launch, and here’s everything we know about it so far:
Why Scout?
When Volkswagen Group acquired Navistar in 2021, it inherited the rights to the iconic Scout brand (International Harvester Scout). For about five years, the company sought an opening in the truck (pickup) segment in America, showcasing two concept vehicles. Last year, it sensed a great opportunity with the badge that reminds people of the country’s first off-road SUV, CEO Dr. Herbert Diess told TechCrunch in an interview (via YouTube). Volkswagen’s decision to launch its pickup truck in the U.S. under a separate brand, and keeping them in the dark, has not been well received by dealers. According to Automotive News, Volkswagen dealers are seeking an explanation from the company.
Development
The Volkswagen Group is looking to make its electric Scout truck and SUV as American as possible. The company will engineer these models in the U.S. under a separate U.S.-based company that operates independently. The German conglomerate has simply said that Scout models will sit on “a new technical platform concept” that offers “credibility beyond the existing Volkswagen Group portfolio.” It could be referring to SSP Mechatronics platform, or perhaps a special platform that draws modules/elements from the SSP and MEB architectures.
Design
TopElectricSUV.com’s rendering of the Scout electric truck captures the proportions and elements from the official sketches, while harking back to the original. The body paint is inspired by the ‘Grenoble Green’ and ‘Ceylon Green’ colors of the 1980 Scout, while the roof is our interpretation of the ‘White Standard Traveler.’
The Scout electric truck will look nothing like any existing Volkswagen Group model. The company will design it from a clean sheet and ensure it looks like one of its toughest and most rugged models ever made. An official sketch has revealed this electric truck will feature a flat hood that could hide a voluminous ‘frunk,’ an upright face, a tight front overhang, vertical tail lamps, a sleek greenhouse, straight lines, and smooth surfaces.
The Scout pickup may not compromise on ground clearance and space, but its overall height might be quite low, thanks to the bespoke electric platform. Like most electric trucks, it will come in a crew cab version. There could be a market opening up for single cab and extended cab (light duty) electric trucks during the second half of the decade. Even though Scout will likely be a lifestyle brand, Volkswagen Group may not compromise on the capability of the trucks. From the initial sketches, it looks like it is designed to handle anything that comes its way at the job site.
Features
Dr. Diess has suggested that the Scout electric truck will be Volkswagen Group’s most technologically advanced pickup. Speaking to TechCrunch, he hinted at features like a solar roof, vehicle-to-load (V2L), and rear-wheel steering for Scout models. A solar truck bed cover (as an accessory) could offer tangible range benefits, whereas features like rear wheel steering and the ‘Multi-Flex Midgate’ have been implemented already by GM on Ultium-based electric truck models.
Production and Release Date
Volkswagen Group has confirmed it will build the Scout electric truck and Scout electric SUV in the U.S. What it hasn’t revealed is whether their manufacturing will take place at the existing plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, or a new facility. The company needs to understand whether there is a need for a Greenfield factory, understand the sales potential, and complete its market study before a decision in this aspect, Dr. Diess told TechCrunch.
According to a report from Manager Magazin, Volkswagen Group is looking at a second plant next to the existing U.S. factory. This production facility, which may increase the company’s annual production capacity in the U.S. to 600,000 units, could make all the Scout models. Dr. Diess said during the TechCrunch interview that the company would aim at filling one plant with products from the new brand.
Featured image (and image shown in the gallery): VW Group
Keyword: VW Group’s 2026 Scout electric truck (pickup): Everything we know