Reservations for extended range Scout Motors models are available than those of pure electric versionssaid Scout CEO Scott Keogh in an interview with Bloomberg at CES 2025 in Las Vegas this week.
Volkswagen Group's new company plans to launch its Traveler SUV and Terra truck in 2027 with an electric powertrain. called the Reaper that adds a gasoline engine that acts as a generator to improve range. It is estimated to provide 500 miles on a combination of gasoline and battery power, as opposed to 350 miles on battery-only versions.
Scout Traveler concept
Harvester models attract more bookings because EV disinterest “in a certain part of America” and concerns about the lack of public charging stations, Keogh said, adding that the expanding train “gives us a 50-state vehicle” that can be sold in states that cannot support EVs. That probably includes red states like South Carolina, where the Scout factory is built.
“The two challenges we see with electrification, charging infrastructure-and this takes all of that off the table-and there's simplicity,” Keogh said. “I think with those two things, a range extender makes a lot of sense.” incorporate the necessary changes.
Scout Terra concept
The VW Group announced the Scout in 2022, reviving the name used for trucks produced by International Harvester from 1961-1980. As a brand under the control of its parent company, the VW Group, rather than VW of America, the Scout tries to use direct sales model similar to other EV-only brands like Lucid, Rivian, and Tesla. But franchised VW dealers are fighting that.
The Traveler and Terra pay homage to the original Scout trucks with retro styling, body-frame architecture, and an emphasis on physical controls over touchscreens. But they're still expected to boast some software-based features, like pets and camping modes, that rival more technologically advanced EV products. A third model is also reportedly in the works, but the timing is uncertain.