Scout Motors fires back at report claiming production delay

It’s been just over a year since the Volkswagen Group announced its intention to address a major gap in its North American lineup: off-road vehicles. From day one, Scout Motors committed to starting production of the body-on-frame Terra pickup and Traveler SUV in 2027. Visit the company’s website and that promise still stands, albeit with an important disclaimer:

“Initial production will commence in 2027 based on current projections and is subject to change. The expected production date is an estimate and can be influenced by various factors. Actual availability may vary.’

A new report from a renowned German newspaper The mirror claims Scout Motors is experiencing “technical issues” that could push the start of production to summer 2028. Insiders told the publication that “an earlier date is now considered purely speculative.” Contacted for comment, a Scout spokesperson declined to elaborate, saying only: “We currently have no update to our timeline or product plan to share.”

In addition, Jamie Vondruska, responsible for building the Scout Motors community, posted a formal response on the website special company forums. While production challenges have not been ruled out, the VW Group’s newest brand says it is making “good progress” in vehicle development, building its South Carolina plant and building its supplier network.

“We are still moving full steam ahead and bringing Scout back to market. Everything is moving forward and making good progress. Like the man who balances spinning plates on sticks and runs back and forth to spin them to keep them from falling, we juggle many things at once. New factory. New suppliers. Two completely new vehicles. Are there possible delays? Naturally. But I will notify you as soon as possible if there are any official changes or important announcements.”

It would be unrealistic to expect Scout Motors to reach its maximum annual capacity of 200,000 vehicles as early as 2027. The 1,100-acre Blythewood factory is all new, as are the Terra and Traveller, as neither model is related to existing VW Group products.

Both the truck and SUV are still officially on track to enter production next year, with a starting price of less than $60,000. Fully refundable $100 reservations remain available for both the pure electric and range-extending versions. The EVs are expected to have a range of 350 miles on a single charge, while the EREVs will achieve a range of more than 500 miles by using a gasoline engine as a generator to power the battery.

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Source: Scout Motors

The launch of Scout Motors is a multi-billion dollar undertaking for the Volkswagen Group, and comes at a time when the company is pursuing significant cost savings. Earlier this week German business publication Manager Magazine reported that the auto conglomerate aims to reduce spending on its brands by 20 percent by the end of 2028.

Such a move would follow a previously announced plan to reduce Germany’s workforce by 35,000 workers by 2030. The new report also claims that further factory closures have not been ruled out, following the recent closure of the VW factories in Dresden and Audi in Brussels.

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Source: Scout Motors

Taking Motor1s: Scout Motors made it clear from the start that the 2027 production target was an estimate rather than a hard deadline. The first vehicles could still hit the assembly line late next year, but realistically a full production ramp-up is more likely in 2028 or beyond.

The company’s latest statement should allay concerns that the Volkswagen Group is reconsidering the launch of Scout Motors. It takes time to build a new automaker from scratch, and even despite broader cost cuts at the parent company, the revival of this iconic nameplate continues.