Scout Motors CEO On Creating The Levi’s Of Electrical Vans, Staying True To The Model’s Historical past

Volkswagen Group made big waves a couple of years in the past when it introduced the revival of the honored Scout title for a brand new absolutely electrical truck and SUV that will be inbuilt 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 acquired to sit down 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 ability and the corporate’s philosophy as a complete.

Keogh begins by speaking about how the unique Worldwide Harvester Scout “principally invented the class that turned the American SUV,” stating that even the Scout title was mimicked by different SUVs that got here after. “Scout means to go first — then you definitely had the Explorer, and 4Runner, and Discovery, and Blazer and Trailblazer,” says Keogh, “it’s just like the Godfather, it’s the prototype, it’s an amazing place to start out. Even when you’ve by no means heard of it, ‘Scout’ is a optimistic factor and has a which means for itself.”

The brand 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 perspective, it lets you set the proportions up effectively aesthetically,” he says, “we wish to construct one thing that’s extremely sturdy and extremely succesful.” Keogh provides that the body could have a “sensible resolution for executing the battery idea,” 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 growth. As for whether or not the platform may very well be utilized by different manufacturers sooner or later, Keogh says there are at present no plans, however the risk is there.

The Volkswagen Group has 660,000 staff worldwide, however Scout is working like some other startup, with round 350 staff at present. The place being part of the VW umbrella turns into most useful is within the manufacturing course of. Parts can be shared with Scout wherever potential, and having a provide base already in place is a big boon. Not like different startups, Scout is ready to get higher offers by way of commerce and element sourcing because of the backing of VW, which is able to cut back total prices and assist with tempo. “As a pure startup, if we needed to place a plant collectively, we wouldn’t be the place we’re at this stage. It’s permitting us to execute a great tempo versus at all times following the prescribed path,” Keogh says. “What are the issues that we are able to take off the shelf and never reinvent the wheel, and what are the issues we are able to differentiate on and make an actual distinction? We wish to press our benefit right here.”

However make no mistake, the Scouts’ design, engineering and powertrains can be distinctive to the model, and even the manufacturing facility itself is in contrast to different VW amenities. “This isn’t a twin, or brother or daughter to any of the platforms that we’ve ever had,” says Spies, “once I buy manufacturing tools for Scout, I take technical specification expertise, however not elements or components of factories or the assemblies from some other plant. This can be a drawback by way of pace, however an enormous alternative to actually ship the vehicles that must be distinctive for the market.”

To that finish, it was essential 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 in america. “Scout permits us to plunge into the 2 greatest revenue swimming pools in America,” Keogh says, explaining that structuring the corporate as a clean-slate startup is the sensible factor to do, because it doesn’t inherit any of the legacy challenges.

In keeping with Keogh, the manufacturing Scout’s design is “hyper, hyper, hyper shut” to being completed and locked in, and the engineering is “possibly a tack or two behind.” What we’ll see get revealed this summer season received’t be a whimsical idea automobile — Keogh says “we’re not going to be within the enterprise of displaying fanciful exploration that’s by no means going to get made — however there could also be a couple of minor tweaks between the prototype present vans and the ultimate manufacturing autos. Most significantly, Keogh guarantees that “it’ll be superior.”

The brand new Scouts are being engineered with the aftermarket already in thoughts, too. Keogh acknowledges that aftermarket equipment are of giant 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 important thing factor was to get all of it dialed in on the platform, so we have now the software program and packaging prepared for no matter could also be arising,” Keogh explains, avoiding the pitfalls of ending a automotive after which making an attempt to make equipment work after the actual fact.

Keogh goes on to speak about how Scout isn’t making an attempt to place itself in any particular market section or aggressive set. “I view Scout a bit bit like Levi’s, if you’ll,” he says, “Levi’s may be worn at Nobu in Malibu, and it may be worn on a worksite. It’s a cool, iconic American model.” He calls out the Bronco and Defender as being nice examples of “neighborhood autos” that aren’t simply one other generic SUV. “We’re not constructing one thing to navigate the strip malls of America, we’re constructing one thing to navigate America,” Keogh remarks, “it’s going to be a automotive with character, it’s going to be a automotive with character.”

Greater than anything, Scout desires to verify the brand new vans are true to the unique model, and that they enchantment to homeowners each previous and current. “If the neighborhood doesn’t assume you’re genuine, and grounded, and actual, then you definitely’re a poser. And when you’re a poser, it’s not going to work,” Keogh says. “When you’ve got a mismatch between what the model was anchored in, and what you’ve put within the market, then that connection goes to be smelled out.”

Each the SUV and truck can be proven on the similar time, however they received’t enter manufacturing in parallel — Spies says it’s by no means a good suggestion to start out a manufacturing facility that manner, however they’re prepping for a fast ramp-up, so prospects received’t have to attend lengthy after the primary mannequin goes into manufacturing. The model’s plan at present solely contains 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 now the chance to construct all of the concepts which might be within the sketchbooks of our designers and advertising and marketing folks” because of the pliability of the ground-up facility. Finally the manufacturing facility will be capable of produce greater than 200,000 autos per 12 months and create 4,000 new jobs. Scout can be working with excessive colleges and faculties within the space to recruit and practice 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 offered, whether or not or not it’s by means of 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 are going to value.

It’s apparent that Keogh and the remainder of the Scout workforce are genuinely excited to construct the model and showcase what they’ve been engaged on. “The dream of any model is to start out at day one with some momentum and a few love and a few neighborhood, and I believe we’ve labored actually laborious on that,” Keogh says. “It’s the prospect of a lifetime.”