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This feels like a gut punch ugh.
https://www.thedrive.com/news/vw-group-delays-scout-motors-launch-until-at-least-2028-report
The Drive Article:
The launch of VW Group’s new Scout Motors brand in the United States has been delayed by at least a year. According to German newspaper Der Spiegel (Paywalled and requires translation), the company will hold off on production until at least 2028, citing a combination of “technical issues” (per an automated translation) and existing financial obligations.
Scout was originally branded as an all-electric revival of the SUV of the same name produced by International Harvester from the early 1960s until about 1980. A rapidly changing political and economic climate has forced Scout to backtrack on its initial all-electric pledge. Now, it seems likely that the majority of Scout’s trucks and SUVs will be range-extended models equipped with onboard gasoline generators.
The company chose an American location for its production facility largely to take advantage of the
The VW Group subsidiary has been given a long leash, being treated as an independent brand with more of a startup atmosphere than a traditional automaker. It is also the third major effort by Volkswagen to establish a production foothold in the United States. The first, a plant in Westmoreland, Penn., operated for a decade. The second was the company’s highly successful Chattanooga facility, where the bulk of its mainstream U.S. models are now produced.
Scout Motors originally broke ground on its Blythewood, South Carolina facility in early 2024 and completed the bulk of construction in 2025. The company had originally planned to bring its first models to market in 2027.
“Scout Motors has not shared any timing or product update announcements,” a company spokesperson told The Drive in response to an emailed inquiry. We will update this story if we receive a more detailed statement.
English Translation of the Der Spiegel article:
https://www.thedrive.com/news/vw-group-delays-scout-motors-launch-until-at-least-2028-report
The Drive Article:
The launch of VW Group’s new Scout Motors brand in the United States has been delayed by at least a year. According to German newspaper Der Spiegel (Paywalled and requires translation), the company will hold off on production until at least 2028, citing a combination of “technical issues” (per an automated translation) and existing financial obligations.
Scout was originally branded as an all-electric revival of the SUV of the same name produced by International Harvester from the early 1960s until about 1980. A rapidly changing political and economic climate has forced Scout to backtrack on its initial all-electric pledge. Now, it seems likely that the majority of Scout’s trucks and SUVs will be range-extended models equipped with onboard gasoline generators.
The company chose an American location for its production facility largely to take advantage of the
The VW Group subsidiary has been given a long leash, being treated as an independent brand with more of a startup atmosphere than a traditional automaker. It is also the third major effort by Volkswagen to establish a production foothold in the United States. The first, a plant in Westmoreland, Penn., operated for a decade. The second was the company’s highly successful Chattanooga facility, where the bulk of its mainstream U.S. models are now produced.
Scout Motors originally broke ground on its Blythewood, South Carolina facility in early 2024 and completed the bulk of construction in 2025. The company had originally planned to bring its first models to market in 2027.
“Scout Motors has not shared any timing or product update announcements,” a company spokesperson told The Drive in response to an emailed inquiry. We will update this story if we receive a more detailed statement.
English Translation of the Der Spiegel article:
In the US, Volkswagen suffered almost nothing but defeats last year. US President Donald Trump's auto tariffs particularly devastated business for Audi and Porsche – and cost Europe's largest automaker billions.
But even the VW brand sold almost 50,000 fewer vehicles there in 2025, despite a stable overall market and the fact that it produces vehicles locally and can thus partially circumvent the tariffs. In an interview, CEO Oliver Blume just abandoned the goal of achieving a ten percent market share in the US with all Volkswagen brands.
Scout, a historic pickup truck brand that the company intends to revive, is considered VW's only hope in the world's second-largest car market. In Blythewood, South Carolina, Volkswagen is currently building a factory where, according to the original plan, electric trucks and battery-powered off-road SUVs were to be produced starting next year.
At its final stage, Scout was supposed to be able to build 250,000 vehicles there, which, given the weak demand for electric trucks, is already considered oversized. Now, production is being delayed even further: According to information obtained by SPIEGEL, Scout has postponed the start date from 2027 to the summer of 2028. An earlier date is now considered purely speculative. Volkswagen declined to comment on the delay when asked. "We currently have no update to our timeline or product plan to share," a Scout spokesperson said in response to an inquiry.
Even tougher cost-cutting measures in Wolfsburg
In the current crisis, the slower start of the Scout factory is causing particular tension. Group CEO Blume wants to tighten cost-cutting programs in Germany: According to a report in manager magazin, the Volkswagen boss has committed his executives to an even stricter austerity course. Even the closure of major plants in Germany, which the VW works council averted at the end of 2024, is being discussed again.
Now the Scout factory is becoming a political issue in Wolfsburg, especially since the plant and its supplier park are expected to cost three billion dollars (2.53 billion euros) – money that is urgently needed elsewhere. Construction is already in full swing, but the factory will probably only generate revenue a year later than hoped, assuming everything goes according to plan from now on.
The current problems could also affect the sister brand: Audi plans to build up to 40,000 premium SUVs (project name: "Audi Rugged") on the Scout platform in Blythewood.
Furthermore, the delay would be a significant setback in the race with the competition. Ford intends to launch a version of its best-selling F-150 truck with a range extender as early as 2027.
The reason for the impending delay: In addition to the development of the hybrid drive with a so-called range-extender (REEV), the software is also taking longer than usual, as is so often the case within the Volkswagen Group. Because the software alliance with the US start-up Rivian has not yet delivered what Scout needs, Volkswagen's own, itself crisis-ridden, development unit Cariad has to step in.
The situation is extremely difficult for the group, as many hundreds of people are already working for the new brand.
Even worse: The comeback to the US market, planned for years, has been postponed once again.
Poaching in Ford and General Motors' territory
Until now, the Volkswagen brand was too European for many Americans. Scout was supposed to finally make the company more appealing.
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