Volkswagen has begun producing its own Toyota Land Cruiser, and it already has over 200,000 orders.

Volkswagen Group is about to launch a new brand in the U.S. market: Scout. Though “new” might not be the right adjective to describe it—originally, Scout was the name of an SUV manufactured by International Harvester from 1961 to 1980—the German giant now owns the rights to this trademark, which it will use to designate an off-road oriented brand.

Scout Motors has officially begun producing test vehicles at its new plant in South Carolina. The company’s first two models will be an SUV (Scout Traveler) and a pickup truck (Scout Terra). “What we’re building in Blythewood is no longer just a promise on paper. Our teams are bringing these vehicles to life and constructing our first validation vehicles right here in the factory,” says Scout’s president and CEO, Scott Keogh.

The investment in the new plant exceeds $2 billion, and it is expected to create more than 4,000 jobs. Scout is currently in the process of hiring and training its employees; it is also working with nearby universities and higher education institutions to develop a pool of workers with experience in automotive engineering and manufacturing.

In any case, the validation processes will continue throughout 2027, so the first deliveries are likely to be delayed until 2028. As of now, Scout has approximately 212,000 pre-orders for its two models. Most potential customers own vehicles from brands such as Ford, Jeep, Rivian, or Tesla (keep in mind that both the Traveler and Terra will come in electric and long-range electric versions).

Scout’s SUVs will come in BEV and EREV versions

Potential buyers of the Traveler are currently owners of models such as the Ford Bronco, Mustang Mach-E, and F-150, Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, Jeep Wrangler, or Rivian R1T. For the Terra, other pickup trucks like the Jeep Gladiator, Ford Maverick, and Toyota Tacoma are also on the list. Interestingly, the Tesla Cybertruck is not included.

The Traveler and Terra are built on a frame of beams and struts. Their electrical system operates at 800 volts, and they should be able to charge at a maximum power of 350 kW. The BEV variants will have an EPA range of around 350 miles (563 km), while the EREV variants, which will bear the Harvester name, will achieve an EPA range of 500 miles (805 km).

As expected, all-wheel drive will be standard. Its ground clearance will be 3 feet (about 91 cm), with a overall height above the ground of over 1 foot (30 cm). It will also feature a detachable front stabilizer bar, a rigid rear axle, and mechanical locks at both the front and rear... The Traveler will offer a towing capacity of 3,175 kg, while the Terra can tow up to 4,536 kg. Additionally, the pickup can carry up to 907 kg on its bed.

Source | Motor1