Car Wearing: VW will resurrect Scout as an EV brand

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The Fisker Pear promises a low price, Canoo claims to be on track, and Mercedes serves up a Level 3 system in the EQS sedan. But first:

VW Will Bring Back Scout as an EV Brand

This week Volkswagen revealed plans to resurrect the Scout name for an EV-only brand that will offer SUVs and trucks, using an International Harvester nameplate that had been dormant for decades.

The announcement caught the EV world by surprise, for the most part, with Wolfsburg seeking to expand its lineup through the addition of a vintage American brand for rugged electric models.
Two models are planned at the outset—an SUV and a truck—with VW sharing side profile sketches of models it wants to launch by 2026.
"After Volkswagen's successful turnaround in the U.S., we are now taking the opportunity to further strengthen our position in one of the most significant growth markets for EVs," said Volkswagen AG CEO Herbert Diess. "Electrification provides a historic opportunity to enter the highly attractive pick-up and R-SUV segment as a Group, underscoring our ambition to become a relevant player in the U.S. market."

Volkswagen plans to adopt design elements of the classic International Harvester models.

The move is seen as laying the groundwork for a Rivian-style lineup in the coming years, with planned vehicles to be designed and built in America.

That's a big change, as VW currently imports all EVs for the US market from Germany.
VW plans to show off the first Scout prototypes next year, wasting little time to get going, just as other Volkswagen EV production expands to the US later this year when the ID.4 will begin rolling off the assembly line in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Lordstown Sells Plant to Foxconn, Just in Time

Lordstown wrapped up the sale of its plant to Hon Hai Technology Group, better known as Foxconn.

Speaking of electric trucks, this week Lordstown Motors wrapped up the sale of its plant to Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn, which plans to build the Endurance pickup and other EVs at the former GM facility in Ohio. The sale, which was completed this week just a few days before a crucial deadline, effectively spared the Endurance from an uncertain fate, while also giving iPhone maker Foxconn a footprint for building the Fisker Pear in the near future.
Perhaps the bigger story than the timely salvage of the Endurance pickup project—revealed almost two years ago but not without its share of controversy and delays in that time—is the fact that Foxconn is on its way to become an EV manufacturer in the US. And Foxconn is not staking its entire plans on just the Endurance pickup.
The Endurance pickup itself made quite a splash two years ago, promising four in-wheel hub motors and a 600-hp output—fancy tech for something aimed mostly at commercial fleet buyers.
There is still a bit of uncertainty when it comes to the Endurance, which will not be immune from other industry-wide pressures when it is expected to enter production later this year. The presence of other electric pickups on the market, including those from Ford and Rivian, will be part of that uncertainty, as GM itself readies the Silverado Electric. Quite soon there will be more than a few electric pickups to choose from, and the Endurance will need to find a way to stand out.

Arrival Nears Van and Bus Production Launch

UK-based electric-vehicle startup Arrival revealed this week its planned Bus model has achieved certification in the European Union and is conducting trials on closed courses ahead of testing on public roads. Scheduled to be the first to see a commercial launch, the model is now in the trial production stage, with Arrival expecting customer models to materialize in the second half of the year.

The startup also said its Van model is over 70% of the way through its certification process and is expected to enter production in the third quarter of this year.

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Bollinger and Roush Join to Build Commercial EV Platforms

With their boxy B1 and B2 consumer trucks canceled, Bollinger Motors shifted to the world of commercial EVs. Aided by Roush Industries, the Michigan-based companies have now joined forces to source and assemble the all-electric Class 3 through 6 platforms and chassis cabs. Roush will be contracted to assemble the chassis cabs and platforms while Bollinger continues to source and provide the necessary materials.

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