Scout Motors refuses to withdraw on plans to get dealers from the EV comparison – Jalopnik

Dealers suck, so when Scout Motors announced plans for a direct sales model that took out existing dealers, you knew that it was only a matter of time before those dealers tried to change scout of ideas. And you wouldn’t know – that’s exactly what happened. In the most predictable step ever, dealers threw a fit. But then Scout did not deteriorate, and from its sound, the continuous tantrums of dealer have not changed that. Scout CEO Scott Keogh even used his recent Motor Salato performance in Munich to double on direct sale, Insideevs -reports.

Scout did not have to be exactly on the Munich show, because neither the terra nor the traveler will be available in Europe as soon as production starts (a point of Keogh repeated during the press conference), but because Scout is part of Volkswagen Group, apparently saw the show as a way “to tell the global press.” And that story does not include greedy intermediaries who can buy and donate a hobby of the car you want, so that they can buy and donate to the worst politicians in your state.

Keogh focuses on the media and talked about how important a direct sales model is for the future of Scout and says: “If you look at the 21st-century brands and what they can deliver, that is what they do. We can create the stores and we can create the brand experience.”

As InsideeeEVS notes, dealers have of course done much more than complaining about the direct sales plans of Scout. A group of Volkswagen and Audi dealers charged In Florida, with another lawsuit that comes from California New Car Dealers Association. How Scout, who never signed an agreement with any dealers, could not have brought the conditions of a contract that does not exist. But the lawsuits are real and still work through the courts.

According to Keogh, however, he has no plans to change a few grumpy dealers. “I am pretty clear on this front,” he told the media. “This is the right strategy. You have to do well for consumers, and America loves a company that can compete and challenge and innovate … it’s a lot of noise.” He added later: “If you don’t have the relationship with the customer, what exactly do you have? You have the factory and you have all the costs. You don’t have all the optimization in that area.”

If I am completely honest, I just assumed that Volkswagen Group (and therefore Scout) would eventually surrender to dealer pressure, even after they initially pushed back. Ultimately, we will have to see how the lawsuits take place, but I am legitimously impressed that they are still not deteriorating. Of course we are also talking about vehicles that do not really exist yet, so they first have to build a few and ensure that the Range extender works well before we can become too enthusiastic. Still, for the time being, scout can continue to rise against dealers only to be read as a good thing.