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Volkswagen Group made big waves just a few years in the past when it introduced the revival of the honored Scout identify for a brand new absolutely electrical truck and SUV that might be inbuilt America. Yesterday I traveled to Blythwood, South Carolina, to witness the groundbreaking of Scout’s new manufacturing facility, which can be constructed on a 1,110-acre plot of land and start manufacturing in 2026. After the ceremony, our group of journalists bought to sit down down at a roundtable with Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh and head of manufacturing Dr. Jan Spies to be taught extra concerning the new Scouts, the power and the corporate’s philosophy as a complete.
Keogh begins by speaking about how the unique Worldwide Harvester Scout “principally invented the class that grew to become the American SUV,” stating that even the Scout identify was mimicked by different SUVs that got here after. “Scout means to go first — you then had the Explorer, and 4Runner, and Discovery, and Blazer and Trailblazer,” says Keogh, “it’s just like the Godfather, it’s the prototype, it’s an important place to begin. Even should you’ve by no means heard of it, ‘Scout’ is a constructive factor and has a which means for itself.”
The brand new Scouts will journey on a bespoke body-on-frame platform that’s not shared with every other Volkswagen Group merchandise, which Keogh says was the results of a number of debate. “From a design viewpoint, it permits you to set the proportions up effectively aesthetically,” he says, “we need to construct one thing that’s extremely strong and extremely succesful.” Keogh provides that the body may have a “good answer for executing the battery idea,” however doesn’t go into any additional particulars. Magna Steyr, the corporate that manufactures the Mercedes-Benz G-Class, will help with the Scout’s growth. As for whether or not the platform could possibly be utilized by different manufacturers sooner or later, Keogh says there are at present no plans, however the chance is there.
The Volkswagen Group has 660,000 workers worldwide, however Scout is working like every other startup, with round 350 workers at present. The place being part of the VW umbrella turns into most helpful is within the manufacturing course of. Parts can be shared with Scout wherever potential, and having a provide base already in place is a large boon. In contrast to different startups, Scout is ready to get higher offers when it comes to commerce and part sourcing because of the backing of VW, which can cut back general prices and assist with tempo. “As a pure startup, if we needed to place a plant collectively, we wouldn’t be the place we’re at this stage. It’s permitting us to execute a great tempo versus all the time following the prescribed path,” Keogh says. “What are the issues that we are able to take off the shelf and never reinvent the wheel, and what are the issues we are able to differentiate on and make an actual distinction? We need to press our benefit right here.”
However make no mistake, the Scouts’ design, engineering and powertrains can be distinctive to the model, and even the manufacturing facility itself is in contrast to different VW services. “This isn’t a twin, or brother or daughter to any of the platforms that we’ve ever had,” says Spies, “once I buy manufacturing gear for Scout, I take technical specification expertise, however not parts or elements of factories or the assemblies from every other plant. This can be a drawback when it comes to velocity, however an enormous alternative to essentially ship the vehicles that need to be distinctive for the market.”
To that finish, it was essential that the Scout’s design, platform and specs be created particularly with the American market in thoughts. The VW Group has a excessive market share in China and Europe, however its footprint is far smaller in the USA. “Scout permits us to plunge into the 2 largest revenue swimming pools in America,” Keogh says, explaining that structuring the corporate as a clean-slate startup is the good factor to do, because it doesn’t inherit any of the legacy challenges.
In accordance with Keogh, the manufacturing Scout’s design is “hyper, hyper, hyper shut” to being completed and locked in, and the engineering is “possibly a tack or two behind.” What we’ll see get revealed this summer season received’t be a fantastic idea automobile — Keogh says “we’re not going to be within the enterprise of exhibiting fanciful exploration that’s by no means going to get made — however there could also be just a few minor tweaks between the prototype present vehicles and the ultimate manufacturing automobiles. Most significantly, Keogh guarantees that “it’ll be superior.”
The brand new Scouts are being engineered with the aftermarket already in thoughts, too. Keogh acknowledges that aftermarket equipment are of giant significance to off-roaders, so Scout is already having conversations with manufacturers to accomplice with from bounce with a manufacturing facility accessorization program, together with designing its personal equipment. “The important thing factor was to get all of it dialed in on the platform, so now we have the software program and packaging prepared for no matter could also be arising,” Keogh explains, avoiding the pitfalls of ending a automotive after which attempting to make equipment work after the very fact.
Keogh goes on to speak about how Scout isn’t attempting to place itself in any particular market phase or aggressive set. “I view Scout just a little bit like Levi’s, if you’ll,” he says, “Levi’s might be worn at Nobu in Malibu, and it may be worn on a worksite. It’s a cool, iconic American model.” He calls out the Bronco and Defender as being nice examples of “neighborhood automobiles” that aren’t simply one other generic SUV. “We’re not constructing one thing to navigate the strip malls of America, we’re constructing one thing to navigate America,” Keogh remarks, “it’s going to be a automotive with character, it’s going to be a automotive with persona.”
Greater than anything, Scout desires to ensure the brand new vehicles are true to the unique model, and that they attraction to homeowners each previous and current. “If the neighborhood doesn’t assume you’re genuine, and grounded, and actual, you then’re a poser. And should you’re a poser, it’s not going to work,” Keogh says. “When you have a mismatch between what the model was anchored in, and what you’ve put within the market, then that connection goes to be smelled out.”
Each the SUV and truck can be proven on the identical time, however they received’t enter manufacturing in parallel — Spies says it’s by no means a good suggestion to begin a manufacturing facility that method, however they’re prepping for a fast ramp-up, so prospects received’t have to attend lengthy after the primary mannequin goes into manufacturing. The model’s plan at present solely consists of the truck and SUV, however the manufacturing facility will have the ability to deal with quite a lot of packages and derivatives, and Spies provides that “now we have the chance to construct all of the concepts which are within the sketchbooks of our designers and advertising and marketing individuals” because of the flexibleness of the ground-up facility. Finally the manufacturing facility will have the ability to produce greater than 200,000 automobiles per 12 months and create 4,000 new jobs. Scout can be working with excessive colleges and schools within the space to recruit and prepare college students for when the manufacturing facility is up and operating.
There’s nonetheless a ton we don’t but know concerning the Scouts, and a few issues the model itself hasn’t found out. Keogh says Scout hasn’t determined how the automobiles can be offered, whether or not it’s by way of dealerships or direct-to-consumer. Scout hasn’t mentioned something about vary or efficiency targets, how huge the automobiles can be or how a lot they are going to price.
It’s apparent that Keogh and the remainder of the Scout crew are genuinely excited to construct the model and showcase what they’ve been engaged on. “The dream of any model is to begin at day one with some momentum and a few love and a few neighborhood, and I feel we’ve labored actually arduous on that,” Keogh says. “It’s the prospect of a lifetime.”
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