Volkswagen is apparently looking to maximize its recent collaboration with Scout by building its own off-road-biased model on the revival’s new platform. According to Britain’s Autocar, the Wolfsburg-based automaker may spin off its own version of an electrified off-roader or SUV based on the new platform destined to underpin the incoming Terra pickup and Traveler SUV.
Back in 2022, the Volkswagen Group relaunched the Scout Motors brand after acquiring rights to the name and the company. Just last year in 2024, Scout Motors revealed the fruits of its labor by debuting the Terra pickup and Traveler SUV, or two rugged body-on-frame all-electric trucks geared towards adventuring into the wilderness. In addition to the all-electric powertrains, Scout also debuted range-extended versions named after the original Harvester model from the 1960s and 1970s,
VW’s Plans To Build A Rugged Off-Roader Seem Plausible With Scout In The Picture
According to AutoCar, Volkswagen had aspirations to build a new off-road-inspired model to take advantage of the growing demand for overlanding and four-by-four vehicles. It’s the same booming demand that’s led to some other newcomers, such as the Ineos Grenadier, and even more off-road-biased versions of some preexisting vehicles.
Volkswagen hinted at these aspirations with hints of a model internally dubbed the ID Ruggdzz back in 2020. It was to utilize the company’s latest MEB modular electric architecture. However, due to a change in VW Group’s management, the company scrapped those plans. Today, Scout Motors is entirely owned and funded by Volkswagen of America. But it still operates completely on its own as a subsidiary and individual automaker.
Scout Is Taking The Fight To Legacy Automakers With Its EV Prowess
The plan for the Terra and the Traveler is to go after the same customers who buy Jeep Wranglers, Ford Broncos, and Land Rover Defenders, all for their rugged and tough off-road capabilities. However, the biggest distinguishing characteristic of the Scouts is their all-electric powertrains with optional range-extending capabilities.
With Scout being a joint-venture with Volkswagen, with Rivian also playing a role, Volkswagen could use this opportunity to build an off-roader of its own.
Previously, Volkswagen faced major challenges with its aspirations to build an off-roader, simply because it didn’t have a body-on-frame platform it could feasibly use. The German automaker does produce the Amarok pickup for certain African, Asian, and the Australian/New Zealand markets. But the current, second-generation model utilizes a Ford Ranger platform and is built in South Africa,
With Scout developing its own ladder frame from the ground up, Volkswagen could benefit from its use and development. Especially, as the automaker continues pushing for electrification.
With Scout being a start-up, it could help open these doors altogether, by giving the German carmaker an opportunity “to observe how a start-up would take on these challenges,” Scout’s technical chief, Burkhard Huhnke, said in an interview.
“There is no body-on-frame platform in the entire group, so someone has to start. There is no body like that, EV like that, chassis like that, so we have to start from scratch,” Huhnke continued.
Although largely speculative, AutoCar says undisclosed sources familiar with the matter expressed interest in Scout’s new platform. But, should anything come to fruition from these plans, something wouldn’t happen until as far out as 2028. Additionally, Audi also reportedly expressed similar interest in building a dedicated off-roader, since the company’s also a major part of the Volkswagen Group. However, nothing’s advanced in terms of the Ingoldstadt automaker’s desires.
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