Scout recently gave us an inside look at its manufacturing facility in South Carolina, where it plans to build 200,000 vehicles every year. But when are these long-awaited vehicles coming?
Once owned by International Harvester, Volkswagen acquired Scout and announced its revival as an electric off-roading brand in 2023. A year later, basically nothing was known about Scout or its upcoming lineup. All we had were sketches of an SUV and a pickup. At that time, Scout claimed that production was beginning in 2026 at its $2 billion factory in Blythewood, South Carolina.
It’s now 2026 and we have a lot more information about the Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra pickup. Scout said the Traveler is for the “daily driver who, come Saturday, isn’t afraid to head off-course.” Its body-on-frame platform, four-wheel drive, and excess storage make it the perfect SUV for a weekend trip. The base model will deliver 350 miles of range, while the extended-range options will deliver 500 miles. The Terra pickup is for the “toughest jobs,” featuring a body-on-frame construction, a solid rear axle, and four-wheel drive. Like the Traveler, it has a lot of cargo space and will get up to 350 miles — or 500 miles for long-range models. Right now, 80% of pre-orders have reserved long-range vehicles. Both vehicles will offer a wide range of customization options, including plenty of accessories.
After multiple delay rumors, Scout clearly doesn’t want the car community to give up hope. It recently shared a detailed look at its production center in South Carolina. It’s over 1,100 acres, including supplier park buildings, a body shop, paint shop, and final assembly buildings, as well as a training center. The facility is intended to create 4,000 permanent jobs and produce 40 vehicles per hour, according to Scout.
Heading into the body shop, Scout showed off more than 700 robots. The supplier park is for the delivery of parts, batteries, and accessories. This should create around 1,000 additional supplier jobs. Stated Scout: “The size and scope of the park reflect Scout Motors’ strategy to build a fully integrated, domestic supply chain for its trucks and SUVs.”
When are the Scout Traveler SUV and Terra pickup getting released?
Previously, production was said to begin in 2026. When Scout revealed its concept vehicles, however, it said production would begin in 2027, with customers receiving their vehicles that same year. Scout later said to MotorTrend: “As with any ambitious project of this scale, there will be changes, but we are focused on delivering for the American consumer.”
However, there have been reports that Scout’s vehicles are getting delayed until 2028. It’s believed that the carmaker faces technical and financial issues. Initially, Scout planned to release its EV models first, but had to pivot to extended-range electric vehicles due to high pre-orders. These longer-range versions of the vehicles feature a gasoline-powered engine for additional driving range when the battery dies. Due to a partnership with Rivian, Scout’s EVs are using the rival carmaker’s software and zonal electrical architecture — which are not compatible with the EREVs.
Another technical issue may have arisen due to the Traveler and Terra’s layout, which allegedly didn’t account for the fitment of a gasoline engine at inception. To get these EREVs out, Scout had to figure out a way to fit an engine and its components without negatively affecting their weight distribution or payload capacity. Scout CEO Scott Keogh has already told Jay Leno that the EREV models will have half the towing capacity of the EVs. This spells trouble for pickup owners, who probably have no interest in a pickup with a measly 5,000 towing capacity.
Another reason for the possible 2028 production are financial woes. The billions being spent on Scout have allegedly started to worry higher-ups, who have reportedly said the plant is far too big and ambitious. They are questioning if Scout really needs to make 250,000 vehicles a year. The ongoing tension within the brand could lead to some possibly devastating layoffs.
Of course, these are all speculations. But they aren’t too crazy. And Scout isn’t denying it.
“We are still moving full steam ahead, bringing Scout back to market,” Jamie Vondruska wrote in Scout’s forum. “Everything is moving forward and making good progress. Much like the guy who is balancing spinning plates on sticks and running back and forth to keep them spinning to prevent them from falling, we are juggling a lot at once. New factory. New suppliers. Two completely new vehicles.
“Could there be potential delays? Of course. But I will let you all know as quickly as I can if there are any official changes or major announcements.”
Guess it’s better than announcing the arrival of a vehicle, only to have it disappear from every dealership.
