Volkswagen announces Scout will become its new off-road EV brand

Volkswagen has announced a new brand for its off-road focused electric vehicles – Scout.

While the nameplate isn't well-known in Australia, the Scout was a two-door SUV and pick-up truck manufactured by International Harvester between 1961 and 1980, remaining dormant since.

Last year Volkswagen said it was interested in reviving Scout in the United States to be a direct competitor to the Jeep Wrangler and Ford Bronco, having acquired Navistar (formerly International Harvester) and its assets in 2020 for US$3.7 billion (AU$5.34bn).

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Much like the original model, the Scout brand will start with an SUV and pick-up truck first, both to be revealed next year and enter production in 2026 for the North American market.

No details have emerged yet as to which Volkswagen EV platform will underpin the models, although it's likely the current MEB architecture under the ID range will be outdated by then, with the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) becoming the probable option.

“After Volkswagen’s successful turnaround in the US, we are now taking the opportunity to further strengthen our position in one of the most significant growth markets for EVs," said Volkswagen CEO, Herbert Diess.

"Electrification provides a historic opportunity to enter the highly attractive pick-up and R-SUV segment as a group, underscoring our ambition to become a relevant player in the US market.”

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Skoda Superb Scout

It's worth noting while the International Harvester Scout hasn't been seen in Australia since 1981, there have been instances of the Scout name being used in Volkswagen Group models.

Introduced to the local market in 2008 on the Skoda Octavia, the Scout variant has featured on the Czech manufacturer's high-riding Octavia and Superb wagons since, with more of its model range adopting the moniker overseas.