Volkswagen is in talks with Foxconn to construct electrical pickup vehicles and SUVs for its Scout model, in keeping with a recent Reuters report.
VW mentioned in Could that it might reintroduce the Scout identify, which originated with the basic Worldwide Harvester Scout, one of many earliest SUVs. Whereas that first Scout was only one mannequin, VW envisions a whole model aimed particularly on the U.S. market. It plans to indicate prototypes in 2023 and begin manufacturing in 2026.
Along with Foxconn, which is at the moment overseeing the manufacturing of the Lordstown Endurance pickup truck in Ohio, VW can also be reportedly in talks with Magna Steyr. Magna has been constructing the Jaguar I-Tempo at its Austrian manufacturing unit, and just lately commenced manufacturing of the Fisker Ocean.
1971-80 Worldwide Harvester Scout
If VW goes with Foxconn, the Taiwanese firm’s Ohio manufacturing unit may get very busy over the following few years. Foxconn plans to construct the Indi One EV and Fisker Pear in Ohio, in addition to Foxtron EVs beneath its new in-house model.
The Reuters report notes that constructing Scout its personal plant is the least possible possibility, as VW already has its Chattanooga plant for the ID.4 and, doubtlessly, extra EVs sooner or later. That contradicts earlier reviews that VW has been searching for a separate U.S. factory site for Scout—maybe together with house for industrial autos—and VW’s former CEO Herbert Diess mentioned that the corporate was contemplating each brownfield and greenfield websites, that are present manufacturing services and open house for brand new factories, respectively.
Teaser for contemporary Scout electrical SUV and pickup
Diess’ successor, Oliver Blume, plans to reevaluate a few of his predecessor’s EV initiatives, equivalent to Undertaking Trinity, which goals to supply a tech-focused flagship mannequin, in keeping with Bloomberg information. Bloomberg added that Blume recognized success within the North American market as one in every of his 10 priorities after taking on from Diess in September. Scout’s emphasis on rugged EVs may play into that.
Scout was a complete surprise to VW’s U.S. dealers, a few of whom had been involved about VW bypassing them for a Tesla-like gross sales mannequin. That is additionally the mannequin adopted by Rivian, which might possible be one in every of Scout’s fundamental opponents.
