VW Talks Scout Brand, EV Revival


It's been a couple of months since all hands first learned of VW's intent to revive the Scout brand via a series of all-electric trucks and SUVs. At the time, they released the hero shot shown above. Last week, they expanded on the idea in a video - one which includes ample shots of a dandy forest green International Scout off-roader
According to the video description, Volkswagen intends to launch a fully electric pickup truck in the States sometime in the next four years. This machine will allegedly be designed, developed, and produced in this country for customers on this side of the pond. In other words, it'll likely be the size of an F-150 or Rivian and be priced accordingly.
And, yes, the video is in German. Go ahead and activate the subtitles in a language of your choice, ok?
VW says they will be establishing a separate, independent company in America as it moves Scout to the all-electric space with the first prototypes being shown next year. For now, we'll content ourselves with that sketch above. Naturally, typical business school terms like 'synergy' are being flung around like rice at a wedding, so there's a decent chance these things will share its skateboard with other vehicles in the house of Dub.
Nostalgia is an alluring and expensive drug, one which plenty of automakers - including Volkswagen with its New Beetle and then the New New Beetle and then the ... - play up to fine (and profitable) effect. Witness the return of the Bronco, a good example of how a company can play on its heritage and create success - launch issues notwithstanding. On the flip side, GM found out pretty quickly that slapping the Blazer badge on a unibody crossover with front-drive roots was not the ticket to enthusiast hearts.
At least it seems VW is on the right track with styling, at least if that sketch is any indicator. With a prototype said to be waiting in the wings, we won't have long to wait.

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- DenverMike What else did anyone think, when GM was losing tens of billions a year, year after year?
- Bill Wade GM says they're killing Android Auto and Apple Carplay. Any company that makes decisions like that is doomed to die.
- Jeff S I don't believe gm will die but that it will continue to shrink in product and market share and it will probably be acquired by a foreign manufacturer. I doubt gm lacks funds as it did in 2008 and that they have more than enough cash at hand but gm will not expand as it did in the past and the emphasis is more on profitability and cutting costs to the bone. Making gm a more attractive takeover target and cut costs at the expense of more desirable and reliable products. At the time of Farago's article I was in favor of the Government bailout more to save jobs and suppliers but today I would not be in favor of the bailout. My opinions on gm have changed since 2008 and 2009 and now I really don't care if gm survives or not.
- Kwik_Shift I was a GM fan boy until it ended in 2013 when I traded in my Avalanche to go over to Nissan.
- Stuart de Baker I didn't bother to read this article. I'll wait until a definitive headline comes out, and I'll be surprised if Tesla actually produces the Cybertruck. It certainly looks impractical for both snowy and hot sunny weather.
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The difference is that you can extinguish ICE fires propagandist.
Lithium batteries are on the way out. Sodium ion and other technologies are about to replace them. It will be a very interesting world for fans of automotive products, naysaying distractors notwithstanding.