Scout Motors Puts Reservations at About 212,000 for New Models

Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh put reservations for the upcoming Terra pickup and Traveler SUV at about 212,000 as the Volkswagen-backed automaker advances construction of a South Carolina factory.

Scout said Thursday that work at the more than $2 billion site has entered its final phase. Keogh put the plant at about 85% complete, with supporting infrastructure and a $300 million supplier park still being installed.

About 87% of reservations are for extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs, which use an engine as a backup generator for electric motors and batteries. About 75% are for the Traveler SUV. Scout also plans all-electric versions of both vehicles.

Reservations do not guarantee sales. Keogh said the total could roughly double before customer production begins and that turning early interest into purchases is the more important measure. “The big thing for us is how much of the initial production can we 100% presell,” Keogh said. He added that a 12-to-18-month order book would be a strong target and one he thinks Scout can achieve before production.

Scout plans to launch EREVs before its all-electric models and start with mid-level models. Both vehicles are expected to start below $60,000. Scout expects the EREVs to offer more than 500 miles of range, compared with 300 miles for the all-electric versions.

Scout initially expected to offer only electric vehicles as Volkswagen sought to expand in the United States, but it added EREVs amid slower EV adoption and higher costs. The company unveiled the Terra and Traveler and opened reservations in October 2024. Scout was an American vehicle brand from 1961 to 1980, and the new models’ designs draw on its history. Keogh said the company is attracting interest from off-road vehicle owners, including Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler drivers, as well as full-size pickup and Tesla owners.

Keogh said the reservation total could rise above 400,000 before production. Scout expects full production to begin in 2027, with customer deliveries planned for 2028.