VW’s Scout brand will return in 2026 with EV ute and SUV

Volkswagen’s Scout brand will return in 2026 with an all-electric ute and SUV that will lead the charge for the new EV off-road brand.

The Scout brand – better known in the 1960s and 1970 for building boxy off-roaders to compete with the likes of the Ford Bronco – will sit underneath the VW Group’s vast umbrella, along with more familiar names such as Skoda and the upcoming Cupra brand.

But unlike those two, Scout will be predominantly USA-focused, and all-electric, with the brand’s EVs expected to be built in America, with eventual sales targets of around 25,000 units per year, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal.

With relatively low volumes it stands to reason the Scout models will share architectures and electrical components from other Volkswagen Group products, although the company hasn’t gone into any details yet.

Leading the Scout charge will be two new vehicles, both built on a new EV platform, which take the shape of a tough-looking SUV and a new pick-up truck or ute.

The prototypes will be revealed in full next year, ahead of an on-sale date of 2026. Look out, Rivian R1T and R1S, then.

“After Volkswagen’s successful turnaround in the US, we are now taking the opportunity to further strengthen our position in one of the most significant growth markets for EVs,” says Herbert Diess, Volkswagen CEO.

“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 US market.”

The Scout ute – or pickup truck – will naturally compete with the dozen or more electric utes currently promised or under development.

The most obvious competitor for the Scout SUV is the new Ford Bronco, which is currently available as a hybrid.