Over the summer of 2021, Volkswagen-owned subsidiary the Traton Group announced that it had acquired the licensing and remaining assets of International Harvester. Fast forward a little under a year to today, and news has now broken on how VW plans on using the name of the defunct brand, beginning with a revived, fully-electric version of the iconic International Harvester Scout.
Originally produced from 1961 to 1980, the International Harvester Scout (and Scout II) is a beloved vintage truck that’s experienced a major influx in popularity in recent years. And after the immense success of similar revived retro nameplates like the Ford Bronco, it’s not hard to see why VW is looking to tap into this increasingly popular segment. This follows VW’s current MO of expansion, which has been heavily based in the diversification of its assets, with the German-run conglomerate currently dipping its toes in making everything from commuter cars to motorcycles to even hypercars — all created by different brands that fall under the VW umbrella.
Operating as a subsidiary of VW, the Scout name will be used to badge an all-new model range that will include a pickup truck and an SUV — both of which will feature fully-electric powertrains, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Done in an effort to expand into the highly lucrative American market — the most valuable market on Earth — the Scout sub-brand will represent Volkswagen’s first-ever U.S.-based company. Backed by an initial budget of $1,000,000,000, VW’s forthcoming Scout lineup expects to eventually sell as many as 250,000 Scout-branded models in the U.S. annually.
While thus far, nothing has been finalized, VW’s board of directors will meet today to discuss the new venture and are expected to approve the decision. If this revived brand does take shape, the Scout SUV and pickup models that result from it are reportedly slated for a release in or around 2026.
[H/T: WSJ]
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