VW in talks with Foxconn to make Scout electrical SUVs

Volkswagen is in talks with Foxconn to construct electrical pickup vehicles and SUVs for its Scout model, in line with a latest Reuters report.

VW mentioned in Could that it will reintroduce the Scout identify, which originated with the basic Worldwide Harvester Scout, one of many earliest SUVs. Whereas that first Scout was only one mannequin, VW envisions a complete model aimed particularly on the U.S. market. It plans to indicate prototypes in 2023 and begin manufacturing in 2026.

Along with Foxconn, which is at present overseeing the manufacturing of the Lordstown Endurance pickup truck in Ohio, VW can be reportedly in talks with Magna Steyr. Magna has been constructing the Jaguar I-Tempo at its Austrian manufacturing facility, and lately commenced manufacturing of the Fisker Ocean.

If VW goes with Foxconn, the Taiwanese firm’s Ohio manufacturing facility may get very busy over the subsequent few years. Foxconn plans to construct the Indi One EV and Fisker Pear in Ohio, in addition to Foxtron EVs beneath its new in-house model.

The Reuters report notes that constructing Scout its personal plant is the least seemingly possibility, as VW already has its Chattanooga plant for the ID.4 and, probably, extra EVs sooner or later. That contradicts earlier reviews that VW has been looking for a separate U.S. manufacturing facility web site for Scout—maybe together with house for business autos—and VW’s former CEO Herbert Diess mentioned that the corporate was contemplating each brownfield and greenfield websites, that are current manufacturing services and open house for brand spanking new factories, respectively.

Diess’ successor, Oliver Blume, plans to reevaluate a few of his predecessor’s EV initiatives, comparable to Mission Trinity, which goals to supply a tech-focused flagship mannequin, in line with Bloomberg information. Bloomberg added that Blume recognized success within the North American market as one among his 10 priorities after taking on from Diess in September. Scout’s emphasis on rugged EVs may play into that.

Scout was a whole shock to VW’s U.S. sellers, a few of whom had been involved about VW bypassing them for a Tesla-like gross sales mannequin. That is additionally the mannequin adopted by Rivian, which might seemingly be one among Scout’s primary rivals.