Scout’s Electric Future: Volkswagen’s Vision
Volkswagen is considering bringing back the 1980s International Harvester Scout SUV in a new high-performance off-road EV platform. The goal for this new vehicle is to sell it in the U.S. market to compete against the Ford Bronco and the Jeep Wrangler. Volkswagen wants a piece of the action when it comes to the off-road vehicle segment, and there is merit in introducing an all-electric Harvester Scout SUV. Although it is too early to know when Volkswagen will release a concept vehicle, we will have to wait and see when more information is available in the coming months (2021). Also, it’s very likely the SUV will just be called “Scout,” eliminating the “International Harvester” name since that company is no longer in business and Volkswagen owns the rights to the name “Scout.”
High-Performance Off-Road SUV a Possibility
Since Volkswagen owns the “Scout” name, it can use that name to fill an empty slot in its electric vehicle lineup. In technical terms, the trademark name can be used for regular cars, light and medium-duty trucks, and SUVs with a gross weight of more than 2,400 lbs. There are rumors from automotive sources that suggest the “Scout” could become a separate brand on its own rather than a Volkswagen-branded vehicle. But thus far, this is speculation more than anything else.
Volkswagen’s Long-Term Strategy
It’s unclear when Volkswagen plans to release its performance off-roader. It is likely several years away because the company’s main focus at the moment is prioritizing the sale and marketing of its ID vehicles. In the next few months, what is certain is that Volkswagen will ramp up production of its EV battery supply while increasing production of its electric vehicles.
Deciding Which Platform to Put It On
Creating a futuristic concept vehicle of the “Scout” is perhaps one of the most creative and challenging processes Volkswagen will undertake. It remains a mystery as to which vehicle platform it will be on since Volkswagen announced it would merge its Modular Electrification Toolkit (MEB) and Premium Platform Electric (PPE) to create a single Scalable Systems Platform (SSP). With the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco already in the off-road segment, Volkswagen isn’t afraid of investing its resources in the same category, primarily since Jeep and Ford are investing in electric off-roaders of their own. Click here to learn more about Volkswagen’s progress in the EV sector.
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Image Source: International Harvester