- Scout received over 50,000 reservations since revealing its Terra pickup truck and Traveler SUV last fall
- Around 70% opted for the Traveler and over 50% opted for a hybrid powertrain
- The new Scouts are due in 2027 with a promised starting price below $60,000
Volkswagen Group’s new pickup and SUV brand, Scout, designed specifically for America, has been accepting reservations for its debut Terra and Traveler models since their reveal last fall.
Bloomberg recently spoke with Scout CEO Scott Keogh during the 2025 CES event in Las Vegas and learned that Scout has already secured more than 50,000 reservations, with the majority of customers opting for the hybrid powertrain over the fully electric option.
Scout Motors president and CEO Scott Keogh
While Keogh didn’t provide exact numbers, he confirmed that more than half of the reservations were for the hybrid. Scout’s hybrid powertrain, branded as the Harvester, is a series plug-in hybrid system where a gas engine functions solely as a generator to extend the range of the otherwise fully electric powertrain. Both the hybrid and electric versions share the same dedicated EV platform and can be manufactured on the same production line. Notably, Ram has a similar series plug-in hybrid pickup truck in the form of the recently unveiled 1500 Ramcharger.
Scout promises a range of 500 miles for the Terra and Traveler equipped with the Harvester powertrain. For the fully battery-powered versions, the projected range is 350 miles.
Scout Terra and Traveler concepts
In his interview with Bloomberg, Keogh attributed the strong demand for the hybrid option to the lack of charging infrastructure, rather than resistance to EV technology.
“The two challenges we see with electrification are charging infrastructure—and of course this takes that all off the table—and plus there’s convenience,” he said.
Scout Traveler concept
Keogh also revealed that approximately 70% of reservations are for the Traveler SUV.
The Scout lineup draws inspiration from the original International Harvester Scouts, which were produced from 1961 to 1980. VW Group acquired the intellectual property in 2020 as part of its purchase of Navistar, the successor to International Harvester. The Terra and Traveler are scheduled to launch in 2027, with Scout already exploring additional models for the lineup.
Scout Traveler concept
Scout aims for a starting price of under $60,000. In his interview with Bloomberg, Keogh stated that achieving this price point will be possible through economies of scale when sourcing materials, thanks to the company’s integration with VW Group. He noted that material costs are where most competing EV startups face significant challenges.
Production will take place at a new facility in South Carolina.