Scout Motors' Trucks Are Finally Hitting The Road

"The Volkswagen Group's revived Scout Motors brand is really gaining the attention of folks who have been on the fence about buying an electric vehicle. Specifically, the automaker's soon-to-come truck lineup with a gas range extender is appealing to a whole new group of buyers. Scout expects to begin production of its first South Carolina-made vehicles in late 2027. Now we've learned that Scout has released its first test mules onto the worldand they're getting a lot of positive reviews from executives and engineers who are getting some real seat time in the near-production models."

"After years of planning, PowerPoint presentations, rendering and welding, the brand has finally progressed to the rubber-to-road phase of things. Scout confirmed this week that it actually has some real-world test mules out on the roadmeaning that it's officially entered that critical validation stage between initial development and fully-fledged product. And while they decline to say what powerplant is under the hood (whether it be fully-electric or bolstered by the extremely popular gasoline-powered range extender), the execs are still calling the first drives of the new products a "super special moment" in the company's history."

"Here's what the executives tell Automotive News: As the manufacturing site comes together, Scout engineers, and executives such as [Ryan Decker, Scout's VP of strategy and brand], are putting early prototypes through the wringer. I drove my first mule a few weeks ago, Decker said. Super special moment. It's dynamic for a vehicle that has our capability."

Scout Motors' revived brand is attracting buyers previously hesitant about electric vehicles due to a forthcoming truck lineup that may include a gasoline-powered range extender. Production of the first South Carolina-made Scout vehicles is expected to begin in late 2027. Scout has deployed its initial test mules on public roads to validate near-production designs, and executives and engineers report positive impressions from early seat time. The company has not confirmed whether the test mules use pure electric powertrains or range-extended systems. Executives describe the first drives as a "super special moment." Automakers broadly continue to struggle to monetize vehicle data, and BMW is weighing range extenders for its EVs.

Read at insideevs.com