Meet Scout, Volkswagen’s new electric vehicle brand

Although these are essentially electric vehicles with up to 350 miles of all-electric range, an optional “Harvester” gasoline range extender promises 500 miles between charges and fill-ups. But unlike so many new electric vehicles, the two Scouts aren’t replacing tried-and-true models for the sake of change. Scout owners will find real knobs and buttons for infotainment and climate control, traditional exterior door handles and even an optional three-person front bench seat. Both Scout models are based on an all-new robust body-on-frame design that is not shared with other electric vehicles from Volkswagen and Audi.

When they enter production in 2027, the Terra and Traveler will be built at the new Scout factory outside Columbia, South Carolina, which is currently under construction. Scout says pricing will start around $60,000 before any incentives and consumers should be able to purchase one directly from Scout starting October 24, 2024. Since they are built in the United States, both vehicles should qualify has federal tax incentives. Customization is also a key selling point, including off-road accessories such as front and rear skid plates, an off-road winch, auxiliary lighting and an exterior spare tire carrier on the Traveler. We expect prices to climb well above $60,000 as buyers add these extras.

Although they’re closer to full-size SUVs and pickup trucks, the Terra and Traveler will certainly siphon off some buyers from the relatively smaller vehicles. Rivien R1S And R1T. Oddly enough, the timing of the listing comes just months after VW announced plans to invest $5 billion in a joint venture with Rivian to create automotive software that the two companies will share.