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The Detroit Free Press
May 14, 2022
Volkswagen’s decision to revive the dormant International Scout brand of SUVs and pickups with a family of U.S.-centric electric vehicles is a potential stroke of genius that should cause sleepless nights for executives at Ford, Jeep, Chevrolet and GMC.
The new vehicles, which could be on sale as soon as 2026, flow from the confluence of three automotive megatrends:
“Volkswagen has an opportunity to draw on positive consumer sentiment with the Scout name, and perhaps borrow some credibility from history, to achieve its long-held goal of participating in the traditionally lucrative U.S. pickup market,” S&P Global Mobility principal automotive analyst Stephanie Brinley said.
Scout will start small, but Ford, GM and Stellantis should plan to meet its challenge aggressively. And hang onto their wallets.
R-SUV is VW’s shorthand for "rugged SUV." It indicates plans for tough off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco and Land Rover Defender, as opposed to VW’s current on-road focused SUVs: the Atlas, Tiguan, Taos and the electric ID4. “Modernizing the Scout design can give VW a product basis that is better aligned with U.S. tastes than much of what it already has,” Brinley said.
Scout vehicles will be designed, engineered and manufactured “in the U.S. for American customers,” according to a company statement. VW will set Scout up as a new company.
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May 14, 2022
Volkswagen’s decision to revive the dormant International Scout brand of SUVs and pickups with a family of U.S.-centric electric vehicles is a potential stroke of genius that should cause sleepless nights for executives at Ford, Jeep, Chevrolet and GMC.
The new vehicles, which could be on sale as soon as 2026, flow from the confluence of three automotive megatrends:
- The design and engineering flexibility inherent in the skateboard platforms most modern electric vehicles use.
- Surging interest in capable SUVs with heritage styling and capability.
- America’s love for pickups.
“Volkswagen has an opportunity to draw on positive consumer sentiment with the Scout name, and perhaps borrow some credibility from history, to achieve its long-held goal of participating in the traditionally lucrative U.S. pickup market,” S&P Global Mobility principal automotive analyst Stephanie Brinley said.
Scout will start small, but Ford, GM and Stellantis should plan to meet its challenge aggressively. And hang onto their wallets.
R-SUV is VW’s shorthand for "rugged SUV." It indicates plans for tough off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler, Ford Bronco and Land Rover Defender, as opposed to VW’s current on-road focused SUVs: the Atlas, Tiguan, Taos and the electric ID4. “Modernizing the Scout design can give VW a product basis that is better aligned with U.S. tastes than much of what it already has,” Brinley said.
Scout vehicles will be designed, engineered and manufactured “in the U.S. for American customers,” according to a company statement. VW will set Scout up as a new company.
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(Where I lived for a number of years ... 
