Volkswagen’s Scout 4x4 brand pending for Australia 

Australia is officially on the export agenda for the Volkswagen Group’s reborn Scout Motors electrified SUV and pick-up brand. 

While the focus for now is on launching in North America with the Terra dual-cab ute and Traveler SUV, global boss Scott Keogh has confirmed an Australian expansion is on the agenda. 

“America and Canada, those will be our first markets and then after that we will look to other markets, and certainly Australia’s on the list,” he told Australian media at the Munich motor show. 

“Obviously we’re not naive, we see the market in Australia, we see you like these sort of pick-up trucks, let’s say get-outdoors-can-do kind of vehicles, body-on-frame, rugged and we’re certainly aware of the opportunity.” 

Scout is a reboot of the historic International Harvester SUV brand purchased by Volkswagen in 2021. 

The Terra and Traveler will be built in a brand new plant in South Carolina, with production capacity of up to 200,000 units per annum. 

They will come with e-motor-driven 4x4 capability and a choice of battery-electric and range extender plug-in hybrid powertrains. 

US deliveries will begin in late 2027 or early 2028. Keogh said the brand already had 130,000 reservations in North America, with the only pricing guidance being a starting figure under $US60,000 ($93,000 approx). 

Most reservations are for the range extender. 

As range extenders – the system is dubbed Harvester – the Terra and Traveler combine a small rear-mounted petrol engine with two e-motors for an 800km-plus range.

As BEVs, they have two e-motors combined with a battery pack of unspecified size for a range of up to 800km. 

Power figures haven’t been released, but Scout is claiming a torque output near 1355Nm and the ability to accelerate from 0-97km/h (60mph) in 3.5 seconds, while an 800V electrical architecture will deliver a 350kW DC charging capability. 

Overlaying the mechanicals is a nostalgic design that’s a far cry from the sharp angularity of the troubled Tesla Cybertruck. 

These are big vehicles; the Terra is 5821mm long and the Traveler 5280mm.  

Inside, there are digital instrument displays with software sourced from US EV specialist Rivian as part of a VW investment in the start-up. 

Importantly, Keogh confirmed the Scout Terra and Traveler are package protected for right-hand drive, so that’s one big engineering impediment overcome. 

He also confirmed the interest in Scout was mutual, with Volkswagen Group Australia keen to have the Terra and Traveler launch here.  

“We’ve spoken to ... Australian executives,” he said. “They’ve told us about the opportunity. 

“We know the market. We’re not naive to global markets, but I’m not going there. I got a factory to build. 

“I got a car to engineer. I got timelines to hit. And when that gets done, the day this car rolls down the factory line, come visit us and I'll tell you more about Australia.” 

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