Scout Motors' Trucks: Test Mules Signal New Phase for the Brand

Daily Car

26/11/2025

Vehicle Preview

Scout Motors, a brand that the Volkswagen Group has brought back to life, is preparing to launch a new line of trucks. The trucks run mainly on battery power, but buyers who still fear a fully electric vehicle may order a small gasoline engine that recharges the battery while driving. Several generations of test vehicles have now left the laboratory and drive on public roads under strict observation.

Technical Features and Specifications

The Scout trucks are designed around a large battery pack built by Volkswagen's PowerCo subsidiary. If the buyer chooses the range extender option, a compact gasoline engine sits in the engine bay - it never turns the wheels, it only spins a generator that feeds electricity to the battery. The goal is to calm fears of running out of charge plus to allow long trips in areas where chargers are scarce. Factory assembly will start in South Carolina near the end of 2027; the opening price is planned to stay under $60,000.

Product Analysis

Engineers now drive early test vehicles to tune ride quality, chassis stiffness, suspension travel and traction-control code. This validation work guarantees that the final production trucks deliver the expected blend of handling, comfort and safety. Software for infotainment, telematics but also driver helps is written jointly by Rivian besides Volkswagen teams.

Market Comparison

Many battery powered trucks contain only a battery - Scout adds the range extender, a strategy that BMW and others are also exploring for larger models. Although long term road data are still being collected, the truck already appeals to buyers who want electric drive yet refuse to depend solely on charging stations.

Technical Explanation

A range extender is a small gasoline engine that acts as a mobile generator - it produces electricity, sends it to the main battery and never drives the wheels directly. A conventional hybrid uses both an engine as well as electric motors to propel the vehicle, whereas the Scout keeps propulsion electric at all times and uses the extender only as a backup power source. This layout keeps the drivetrain simple and preserves the efficiency of daily electric operation while removing the range limits that trouble some battery only vehicles.

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