Volkswagen Group have announced they will launch an electric pickup and rugged electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) in the United States. The new electric vehicles (EVs) will be designed, engineered and manufactured in the US for American customers.
To do this Volkswagen Group will resurrect Scout, as a separate, independent company in the US and bring the brand into the electric vehicle space. The first prototypes will be unveiled next year, with production scheduled to start in 2026.
The electrified Scout brand will be built upon a new technical platform concept. This will bring the new pickup and recreation utility vehicle (RUV) credibility beyond the existing Volkswagen Group portfolio.
This is a smart move by the Volkswagen Group with the electric sports utility vehicle and its smaller and lighter sibling, the electric crossover, expected to be the next big growth area in the electric vehicle space. It will also be beneficial to have the sub-brand Scout alongside the usual Volkswagen models, such as the ID.4 SUV.
Herbert Diess, Volkswagen CEO, said: “After Volkswagen’s successful turnaround in the US, we are now taking the opportunity to further strengthen our position in one of the most significant growth markets for EVs.
“Electrification provides a historic opportunity to enter the highly attractive pick-up and R-SUV segment as a Group, underscoring our ambition to become a relevant player in the US market.”
Volkswagen believes success in the recreational SUV and pickup segments is a key lever to increasing profitability in the US and achieving the targeted market share of 10 percent. The Volkswagen Group is thus continuing to systematically expand its presence in one of the most significant global growth markets.
Arno Antlitz, Volkswagen CFO, said: “The company we will establish this year will be a separate unit and brand within the Volkswagen Group to be managed independently. This aligns with the new Group steering model – small units that act agilely and have access to our tech platforms to leverage synergies.”
