RIDE-CT – Classic Cars Celebrating Classic Cars in Connecticut
BLYTHEWOOD, SC – With a line of old International Harvester Scout models standing sentry, Scout Motors broke ground here Thursday on a $2 billion factory that is slated to begin producing a revived, electric Scout model in late 2026.
“We’re here to celebrate the revitalization of an American icon and the reshoring of American jobs,” said Scout Motors President and CEO Scott Keogh. “On this land – with our hands and with our technology – we will build great vehicles.”
The plant will be built on roughly 1,600 acres near I-77, less than 20 miles north of Columbia, and is expected to occupy 1,100 acres.
Scout Motors anticipates eventually building $50,000 SUVs “on a newly designed all-electric platform, engineered to deliver credible capability and off-road prowess, with a focus on ground clearance, approach angles, robust axles, payload capacity, all-electric range, and new digital features.”
The company has hired nearly 350 employees since its inception in 2022.
The new company is backed by Volkswagen. Rather than offer a futuristic appearance, the new Scout will have a profile that celebrates the past. The original gas-powered Scouts were produced in the 1960s and 1970s. Production ended in 1980.
BMW, Volvo and Mercedes-Benz Sprinter van models are already produced in South Carolina.
(Images courtesy of Scout Motors.)
