Volkswagen Group made large waves just a few years in the past when it introduced the revival of the commemorated Scout identify for a brand new absolutely electrical truck and SUV that might be in-built 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 take a seat down at a roundtable with Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh and head of manufacturing Dr. Jan Spies to be taught extra in regards to the new Scouts, the power and the corporate’s philosophy as an entire.
Keogh begins by speaking about how the unique International Harvester Scout “basically invented the category that became the American SUV,” mentioning that even the Scout identify was mimicked by different SUVs that got here after. “Scout means to go first — then you had the Explorer, and 4Runner, and Discovery, and Blazer and Trailblazer,” says Keogh, “it’s like the Godfather, it’s the prototype, it’s a great place to start. Even if you’ve never heard of it, ‘Scout’ is a positive thing and has a meaning for itself.”
The new Scouts will experience on a bespoke body-on-frame platform that’s not shared with some other Volkswagen Group merchandise, which Keogh says was the results of lots of debate. “From a design point of view, it allows you to set the proportions up well aesthetically,” he says, “we want to build something that’s highly robust and highly capable.” Keogh provides that the body can have a “smart solution for executing the battery concept,” 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 improvement. As for whether or not the platform could possibly be utilized by different manufacturers sooner or later, Keogh says there are presently no plans, however the chance is there.
The Volkswagen Group has 660,000 staff worldwide, however Scout is working like some other startup, with round 350 staff presently. Where being part of the VW umbrella turns into most useful is within the manufacturing course of. Components can be shared with Scout wherever attainable, and having a provide base already in place is a big boon. Unlike different startups, Scout is ready to get higher offers by way of commerce and part sourcing due to the backing of VW, which is able to scale back general prices and assist with tempo. “As a pure startup, if we wanted to put a plant together, we wouldn’t be where we are at this stage. It’s allowing us to execute a good pace as opposed to always following the prescribed path,” Keogh says. “What are the things that we can take off the shelf and not reinvent the wheel, and what are the things we can differentiate on and make a real difference? We want to press our advantage here.”
But make no mistake, the Scouts’ design, engineering and powertrains can be distinctive to the model, and even the manufacturing facility itself is not like different VW amenities. “This is not a twin, or brother or daughter to any of the platforms that we’ve ever had,” says Spies, “when I purchase production equipment for Scout, I take technical specification experience, but not components or parts of factories or the assemblies from any other plant. This is a disadvantage in terms of speed, but a huge opportunity to really deliver the cars that have to be unique for the market.”
To that finish, it was necessary 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 way smaller within the United States. “Scout allows us to plunge into the two biggest profit 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.
According to Keogh, the manufacturing Scout’s design is “hyper, hyper, hyper close” to being completed and locked in, and the engineering is “maybe a tack or two behind.” What we’ll see get revealed this summer season gained’t be a fantastic idea automobile — Keogh says “we’re not going to be in the business of showing fanciful exploration that’s never going to get made — but there may be a few minor tweaks between the prototype show trucks and the final production vehicles. Most importantly, Keogh promises that “it’ll be awesome.”
The new Scouts are being engineered with the aftermarket already in thoughts, too. Keogh acknowledges that aftermarket equipment are of big significance to off-roaders, so Scout is already having conversations with manufacturers to associate with from soar with a manufacturing facility accessorization program, together with designing its personal equipment. “The key thing was to get it all dialed in on the platform, so we have the software and packaging ready for whatever may be coming up,” Keogh explains, avoiding the pitfalls of ending a automobile 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 a little bit like Levi’s, if you will,” he says, “Levi’s can be worn at Nobu in Malibu, and it can be worn on a worksite. It’s a cool, iconic American brand.” He calls out the Bronco and Defender as being nice examples of “community vehicles” that aren’t simply one other generic SUV. “We’re not building something to navigate the strip malls of America, we’re building something to navigate America,” Keogh remarks, “it’s going to be a car with character, it’s going to be a car with personality.”
More than the rest, Scout needs to ensure the brand new vans are true to the unique model, and that they enchantment to homeowners each previous and current. “If the community doesn’t think you’re authentic, and grounded, and real, then you’re a poser. And if you’re a poser, it’s not going to work,” Keogh says. “If you have a mismatch between what the brand was anchored in, and what you’ve put in the marketplace, then that connection is going to be smelled out.”
Both the SUV and truck can be proven on the similar time, however they gained’t enter manufacturing in parallel — Spies says it’s by no means a good suggestion to begin a manufacturing facility that means, however they’re prepping for a fast ramp-up, so clients gained’t have to attend lengthy after the primary mannequin goes into manufacturing. The model’s plan presently solely consists of the truck and SUV, however the manufacturing facility will be capable of deal with a wide range of packages and derivatives, and Spies provides that “we have the opportunity to build all the ideas that are in the sketchbooks of our designers and marketing people” due to the flexibleness of the ground-up facility. Eventually the manufacturing facility will be capable of produce greater than 200,000 autos per 12 months and create 4,000 new jobs. Scout can also be working with excessive colleges and faculties within the space to recruit and prepare college students for when the manufacturing facility is up and working.
There’s nonetheless a ton we don’t but know in regards to the Scouts, and a few issues the model itself hasn’t found out. Keogh says Scout hasn’t determined how the autos can be bought, whether or not it’s by dealerships or direct-to-consumer. Scout hasn’t mentioned something about vary or efficiency targets, how large the autos can be or how a lot they may value.
It’s apparent that Keogh and the remainder of the Scout crew are genuinely excited to construct the model and exhibit what they’ve been engaged on. “The dream of any brand is to start at day one with some momentum and some love and some community, and I think we’ve worked really hard on that,” Keogh says. “It’s the chance of a lifetime.”
Source: jalopnik.com