VW to Produce EV Pickup Trucks in U.S. Under ‘Scout’ Nameplate
WOLFSBURG, Germany—Pickup trucks have become ground zero in the fight for electric vehicle dominance, with both startups and legacy automakers vying for a share of the lucrative market. Now, Volkswagen Group wants a piece of the action. It plans to launch an EV pickup truck and “rugged SUV” in the U.S. market under the Scout nameplate.
Scout vehicles were produced in Fort Wayne, IN, the 1960s and 1970s by International Harvester Co., which reorganized its truck division as Navistar International Corp. in 1986. Last year, Traton Group, the commercial truck unit of VW, acquired Navistar.
The new Scout brand will be “a separate unit and brand within the Volkswagen Group managed independently.” Vehicles will be designed, engineered and manufactured in the United States using a new platform. The first prototypes will be unveiled next year, and production is scheduled to start in 2026.
“After Volkswagen’s successful turnaround in the U.S., we are now taking the opportunity to further strengthen our position in one of the most significant growth markets for EVs,” says Herbert Diess, CEO of Volkswagen AG. “Electrification provides a historic opportunity to enter the highly attractive pickup and SUV segment, underscoring our ambition to become a relevant player in the U.S. market.”
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