Scout Motors Debuts All-Electric 2026 Traveler SUV, Terra Pickup

Scout Motors -- a new electric manufacturer with an old and storied name -- announced two new retro-styled and off-road capable EVs this week at an event outside of Nashville, Tennessee. Meet the Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra pickup, slated to begin deliveries in 2026. The rugged EVs combine trail-ready features like solid axles and locking differentials with future-ready tech, including bidirectional power delivery and the NACS charging standard. And if the looks alone weren't retro enough, there's a version that runs partially on gas. 

The VW Group launched the Scout Motors brand in 2022 after acquiring the trademark as part of its purchase of American truck manufacturer International Motors (previously Navistar International and, before that, International Harvester). The new rugged EV brand takes its name from the International Scout, a 4x4 off-road vehicle built in Fort Wayne, Indiana, during the 1960s and ’70s -- before the term “SUV” even existed. The startup, as CEO Scott Keogh calls it, is now headquartered in Virginia, operating independently of Volkswagen of America. Its mission is to manufacture exclusively off-road-capable electric trucks and SUVs, with a focus on the US market. (Keogh's last gig was as CEO of VW USA, where he helped launch the ID 4.)

The Scout Traveler has a short wheelbase and even shorter overhangs, an ideal combination for highly technical off-roading.

Let's first take a look at the Scout Traveler, a retro-styled SUV with a boxy, squared-off aesthetic. The two-tone, white-roof design pays generous homage to the classic Scout 800 and Scout II, but the super-short front overhang, upright proportions and broad-shouldered stance also bring to mind Ford’s recently revived Bronco. The Traveler's fascia is defined by a dark rectangular "mask" that integrates the SUV's square, quad-beam LED headlamps and grille. A similar mask element can be found at the rear end, only here the rear-mounted spare tire carrier is integrated into the design for a cohesive look. Swing the spare out of the way and the rear cargo space opens with a split tailgate. Up front, the hood and grille lift to reveal even more storage in the large "frunk," similar to that of Ford's F-150 Lightning.

The Terra is about 10 inches longer from bumper-to-bumper than the Rivian R1T and around 2 inches shy of Ford's F-150 Lightning.

Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the SUV is the Scout Terra, a dual-cab midsize electric pickup truck that looks and feels like a shot aimed squarely over the bow of the Rivian R1T. The design carries over many of the same cues as the Traveler, but it has a three-box truck silhouette, a tougher-looking hood and a distinct bumper treatment. The pickup is also longer than the SUV (229.2 inches vs. 207.9 inches) with a longer wheelbase (148.6 inches vs. 120.4 inches). Without a spare tire hanging off the back, the “ghost light” taillights and Scout script badge stand out more, punctuating the 5.5-foot bed of the pickup. (That's a foot longer than the R1T for those measuring.) Look closely and you may also spy the Scout 80-inspired flick in the sheet metal crease where the bed meets the cab.

These are modern EVs, so there's no escaping the inevitable massive touchscreen dominating their dashboards. However, chief designer Chris Benjamin tells us that physical controls are a big part of the brand's identity and interior design DNA. Big, beefy buttons and knobs can be found on the dashboard and steering wheel, giving passengers tactile control over the tech and climate systems. I especially dig the volume knob tucked into the edge of the screen, resembling a wristwatch crown for easy access by front-seat passengers.

Though both EVs feature large screens, the Scouts' dashboards are also home to a plethora of big and beefy physical buttons and knobs.

The dashboard behind the screen has a halo of accent lighting that echoes the exterior ghost lights at night and integrates a subtle lip that passengers can stand an iPad on. Scout’s large center console provides plenty of storage, but both the Traveler and Terra models can be optioned without it, offering a front bench seat instead -- probably my favorite bit of throwback flair. 

Scout's new EVs are built on a unique body-on-frame platform that's completely different from the MEB platform used by other VW Group EVs. Specifically designed for maximum off-road capability, the trucks each boast a solid rear axle, a disconnecting front sway bar for maximum articulation over uneven terrain, up to 35-inch tires, front and rear mechanical lockers and a nearly 3-foot wading depth. Specs are sparse this early in the game, but we're told to expect close to 1,000 pound-feet of torque and a 3.5-second 0-60 mph sprint. The Traveler will be able to trailer over 7,000 pounds while the Terra is said to haul over 10,000 pounds, with both trucks boasting nearly 2,000 pounds of payload. 

Like many of their electric competitors, the Traveler and Terra both feature large front trunks (or frunks) beneath their hoods.

Scout estimates up to 350 miles of range per charge, but that's subject to change closer to launch. The automaker also hasn't specified exact battery capacity at this point. The EVs will be built on an 800-volt electric architecture, which should allow for relatively fast charging at a capable DC charger. Scout is adopting the North American Charging System at inception, so both EVs will have the Tesla-pioneered NACS port. Bidirectional charging will also be supported at launch along with vehicle-to-load power delivery via an assortment of 120-volt and 240-volt external outlets located next to the slim NACS plug or in the pickup's bed.

The rugged utility vehicles will be built at Scout Motors' new $2 billion Blythewood, South Carolina, factory, which broke ground earlier this year. With an estimated capacity of around 200,000 vehicles annually, the factory is expected to begin pumping out the EVs in 2026. The Traveler and the Terra are projected to start "below $60,000," and Scout reckons that price could get as low as $50,000 with incentives. (If there are still incentives to be had two years from now.)

Behind the swinging spare tire, the Traveler's split tailgate opens wide to accept cargo.

The automaker's "one more thing" at the end of the Traveler and Terra debut was a preview of Harvester variants of both models. This extended range electric vehicle (EREV) configuration adds a gasoline-powered range extender/generator to the mix, allowing drivers to continue adventuring far off the electric grid. That sounds a lot like a series plug-in hybrid to me, but Scout emphasizes that the combustion engine has no mechanical connection to the drive wheels -- the battery and e-motors are always turning the wheels -- so it's still technically an electric vehicle. It's unclear where that ICE will fit in the chassis, though judging by the location of the fuel door in photos, I'd guess it goes in the frunk. The conversion also requires the battery pack to shrink a bit to make room for the gas tank. Even so, Scout estimates a 500-mile range with a full tank and battery. I expect we'll learn more in the coming months.

The original International Scout's competition included vehicles like Jeep's CJ Wrangler 4x4 and the Ford Bronco. Today, the Wrangler 4xe has been the best-selling plug-in hybrid vehicle in America for three years running, and the Bronco returned to the market in 2021 with a wide range of rugged configurations and imposing names like Raptor and Sasquatch. The combustion-powered competition is joined by electric competition from General Motors, Tesla and, of course, Rivian.

Scout's initial lineup of vehicles and the company's mission somewhat mirror that of another young American electric startup: Rivian.

Rivian is an interesting analog to Scout's rebirth in the US. Both are new American brands that exclusively offer electric trucks and EV SUVs. Earlier this year, the Volkswagen Group and Rivian Motors inked a $5 billion investment and technology sharing partnership, so the connection between the brands may end up being more than that of fierce rivals. The specifics of how that partnership will work and how -- if at all -- Scout Motors will benefit have yet to be fleshed out. However, Scout’s mention of a new “modern zonal architecture,” over-the-air updates and remote diagnostic capabilities -- technologies pioneered in Rivan's recently updated R1 platform -- suggests the partnership may already be bearing fruit.