Scout Motors has 212,000 reservations; deliveries wait until 2028

By Olivia Hart

Scout Motors has roughly 212,000 vehicle reservations, CEO Scott Keogh told CNBC, as the Volkswagen-backed company's $2 billion plant nears completion. The reservations cover Scout's Terra pickup truck and Traveler SUV. Scout expects full production next year, with customer deliveries beginning in 2028.

How firm are the 212,000 reservations?

CNBC cautioned that reservations do not necessarily translate into sales. The report pointed to the U.S. automotive industry's experience over the past decade, including the Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla Cybertruck, both of which drew strong interest without meaningful purchase totals.

Keogh said he expects Scout could roughly double the current reservation count by customer production. His priority, however, is converting early interest into actual sales rather than accumulating more names.

“It's been a consistent drumbeat,” Keogh said during the interview at Scout's plant site outside Columbia, South Carolina. “I think we could easily be up over 400,000 with reservations without doing too much effort. The big thing for us is how much of the initial production can we 100% presell.”

Keogh said achieving an order book of 12-to-18 months “would be great” and that he thinks Scout can reach that target before production. CNBC did not report a reservation deposit requirement or a Scout conversion rate. The distinction matters: a reservation signals interest, not a delivered vehicle.

Why do EREVs and SUVs dominate reservations?

Scout plans to offer all-electric vehicles alongside electric hybrid variants known as extended-range electric vehicles, or EREVs. In each EREV, an engine serves as a backup generator for the electric motors and batteries.

CNBC reported that Scout, an American vehicle brand from 1961 to 1980, was initially expected to offer only EVs to help Volkswagen expand in the United States. Slower-than-expected EV adoption and higher costs led Scout to add EREVs.

Keogh said EREVs and SUVs dominate current reservations, with roughly 87% choosing EREVs and 75% choosing SUVs. Those figures reflect the reservation mix, not completed vehicle sales.

Scout expects to launch with EREVs first and the all-electric models afterward. EREVs, not pure EVs, dominate Scout's early demand.

What does “best volume” mean for Scout?

Scout plans to begin with mid-level models rather than the highest-priced versions, a departure from many automakers' launch strategy. Keogh put the near-term objective plainly:

“The No.1 thing for me is I want to go get the best volume as soon as possible,” Keogh said. “In my mind, it's how quick can you get to 100,000 units? It's at 100,000 units where you can start to punch through.”

CNBC said Keogh's comments came months after Rivian Automotive faced online criticism for launching its R2 SUV with its highest-priced models first. The report noted that this launch sequence is common across the automotive industry, even though Rivian drew criticism.

Scout is prioritizing units over a premium opening, but the plan still depends on converting early interest into sales. Keogh's 100,000-unit ambition marks a scale goal, not proof of demand.

How close is the $2 billion plant to completion?

Scout's South Carolina plant outside Columbia is about 85% complete, Keogh said. On Thursday, Scout said construction was “in its final phase.”

CNBC reported that supporting infrastructure and a $300 million supplier park continue to be installed at the site. CNBC did not provide an annual plant capacity figure, leaving the factory's ability to support a 100,000-unit ramp unstated.

Scout opened reservations in October 2024, when it revealed the Traveler and Terra. CNBC described the vehicles as sleek yet rugged, with exterior appearances that pay homage to Scout's historic models.

Scout is close to finishing its factory, but the business case still rests on turning 212,000 reservations into customer deliveries beginning in 2028. The 2028 delivery date makes reservation conversion the critical variable in the plant's $2 billion bet.