Scout, do you understand? But if this a big cubical American 4X4 developed by International Harvester, a now defunct truck manufacturer. It was he, one of the first direct competitors in Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler ! Although International Harvester primarily produced SUVs, the Scout and Travelhall (marketed between 1953 and 1975) were primarily consumer models.

But even with such a reduced range, the Scout quickly caught up a 4X4 image is required. It is still an icon, a legend, dear to the hearts of Americans. But this story didn’t last forever… the International Harvester experience serious difficulties in the 1980s. They led to the end of Scout’s career, and the restructuring of the group exclusively to heavyweight. In 1986, International Harvester changed its name to Navistar International.

From a thermal 4X4… to an electric brand

We owe his rescue, quite recently, to Volkswagen. The group did acquire Navistar in 2020 through its heavyweight subsidiary Traton, which includes MAN and Scania. In this way, Volkswagen restored not only the current range of trucks, but also the rights and patents for the old models. Thus, the Scout brand is now owned by Volkswagen! A year after this acquisition, the group announced the resurrection of Scout. This time as a brand, not as a model.

An ambitious project that must helping Volkswagen break into the American pickup and 4×4 market. Local brands (Ford, Chevrolet, RAM) dominate here. There was the Amarok, updated in 2022 based on the Ford Ranger. But its first generation did not have the expected success. with the appearance of electric trucks (Rivian, Lucid, Tesla), The Wolfsburg firm has also decided to make future Scout models 100% electric.

The first models are expected in 2026

Two models are already planned: pickup truck and SUV. They will not use their own electric platform (like, for example, the famous MEB). But a new platform from the Taiwanese manufacturer Foxconn. Volkswagen, through its new subsidiary Scout Motors, announced this week that it is investing $2 million to build a new custom plant in the United States. This is the state of South Carolina which has been selected to begin construction in mid-2023.

It is possible to create up to 4000 jobs, with the goal release of the first chain models in 2026. Volkswagen has not yet confirmed whether it is a brand may arrive in Europe. What is certain is that, unlike combustion, an electric car knows far fewer physical boundaries. With the desire of the European Union to ban thermal energy by 20235, this brand would also have every chance with us…