- Scout is constructing a $2 billion plant in South Carolina
- A part of the build-out contains the power to deal with contract manufacturing, or constructing autos for different automakers like VW
- This might assist fund Scout’s ventures and even end in cross-brand tech sharing sooner or later
Scout Motors, the off-road, U.S.-centric model spun off from Volkswagen, is on the brink of root itself in South Carolina. When its $2 billion Palmetto State plant comes on-line in 2027, it is working to set the model up for fulfillment—and never simply with its personal two introductory vans.
See, Scout goes about this in a moderately good approach. Seemingly in contrast to Volkswagen, Scout has a spotlight relating to EVs. It isn’t about creating home equipment, it is about creating a life-style product {that a} client really needs. And, certain, there’s going to be some tech sharing happening amongst guardian and baby manufacturers, which is why Scout is hitting the fitness center early so it will probably flex its manufacturing muscle tissue to the entire automotive business.
Photograph by: Scout Motors
The Blythewood-based facility could have a three-phase launch. In response to Joern Petri, the automaker’s VP of Plant Launch, the primary part might be all about getting the doorways open and pumping out the Traveler SUV adopted by the Terra pickup. After it will get its footing, the plant will proceed to ramp up manufacturing to output round 200,000 autos per 12 months. And as soon as it does that? Properly, that is the place issues get fascinating.
Scout truly constructed its plant with contract manufacturing in thoughts. That signifies that it will likely be in a position to construct autos for different OEMs (like Volkswagen) out of the identical facility, permitting it to share its cool tech and instruments throughout manufacturers whereas serving to automakers meet U.S. manufacturing necessities for autos to qualify for the federal EV tax necessities with out the model constructing a complete new manufacturing unit by itself. A win-win, when you ask me.
“We arrange the manufacturing unit in a approach that contract manufacturing is feasible for different VW manufacturers, or whoever is ,” stated Petri throughout a presentation late final month.
It additionally means a fast launch of another fashions that Scout has deliberate sooner or later. I suppose that is higher futureproofing than establishing a bunch of tents, proper?
Scout’s plant can also be set as much as be fully modular. The already large plant is architected type of like Legos, that means that if the necessity for growth is there, the model can merely snap on some extra manufacturing unit and proceed constructing. The structure and land are each already there, so figuring out that it will probably double manufacturing capability on very quick discover must be a optimistic for any automaker trying to reap the benefits of the model’s provide to deal with contract manufacturing.
All of that being stated, it is possible that Scout will not attain that time till nearer to the highest of the last decade. So whereas all OEMs proceed to get their battery-powered butts in gear, it is good to know that there are extra choices on the market to ramp up EV manufacturing. And if these vans end up half nearly as good as the general public thinks they may, I am certain of us would not thoughts a little bit of Scout underneath the hood.
