Scout Motors, a Volkswagen-backed electric vehicle startup, has accumulated approximately 212,000 reservations for its two upcoming vehicle models as construction on its South Carolina manufacturing facility approaches final stages. The reservations are divided between the Terra pickup truck and Traveler SUV, with full production anticipated to commence next year and customer deliveries beginning in 2028.
Chief Executive Officer Scott Keogh stated that the company anticipates reservation numbers could roughly double by the time customer production launches, though he emphasized the importance of converting early interest into actual purchases. He noted that achieving an order book covering 12 to 18 months of production would be a positive outcome before manufacturing begins. Keogh acknowledged that reservations do not guarantee sales, referencing the automotive industry’s experience with highly anticipated electric trucks that generated substantial interest without translating to significant purchase volumes.
Initially planned as exclusively electric offerings, Scout adjusted its strategy to include extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs, which combine an electric motor with an engine serving as a backup generator. This decision reflected slower-than-expected EV adoption rates and cost considerations. Current reservation data indicates strong preference for the EREV models, with approximately 87 percent of reservations selecting this option, while 75 percent of orders are for the Traveler SUV. The vehicles are expected to launch starting under $60,000, with EREV versions offering more than 500 miles of range compared to 300 miles for fully electric models.
The company plans to launch with extended-range models first, followed by all-electric versions, and will begin with mid-level pricing tiers rather than premium models. Scout’s manufacturing facility in South Carolina is reported to be roughly 85 percent complete, with supporting infrastructure and a $300 million supplier park continuing development. Reservations for the vehicles opened in October 2024 when Scout initially revealed its two models.
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