Don't let the Scout become a status symbol; why $60k misses the point of the Revival

[TaconicBear]

Designing a $30K highly capable midsized EV truck as an established OEM

Designing a $60K highly capable, off road-ready fullsized EV truck as a brand new OEM



Show me just 1 quote from Scout Motors where they indicated that they wanted to launch into a saturated "$60K luxury segment" LOL.

...I didn't think so.

Well, @R1TVT, maybe not a statement in words, but I doubt I'm alone in my observations. At last year's "Scout Nationals" SM displayed their offerings, mostly indoors, but outdoors as well. Indoors, we were kept at breathing distance, but the doors were flung wide and there was plenty of time to observe plenty of detail; outdoors, they were arrayed near our legacy Scouts and unavoidably near some of our other non-Scout vehicles. Inside, I was wowed by the completeness, thoughtfulness, and an aura closely approaching luxury. Outside, the Terra passed close by my Toyota Tundra snapping an instant revelation clear to my eyes, they were much the same.

 

[strider]

Outside, the Terra passed close by my Toyota Tundra snapping an instant revelation clear to my eyes, they were much the same.

I will admit to not knowing the Toyota trim hierarchy, but I just pulled up the configurator on their website and a 2026 Tundra Limited 4x4 with no other options is $60k. So it sounds like Scout is right where they need to be?

 

[tomgillotti]

Perfect example of an AI Fail, since there was no math involved.

Regardless, simply pointing out that you stated that "Scout insisted on launching into a saturated $60K luxury market" (when Scout never said that) is hardly "an attack". It's clarity for those reading this board. It's also factual. I would suggest you stick to the facts here and in other threads on this forum.

@R1TVT, I recognize that we are prioritizing different things: I am focused on the market data and the reality of the Scout rollout, while you are focused on the meta-discussion of how I format my thoughts.

You are free to label my posts however you like, but I have no interest in engaging with the writing process. My interest remains in the actual automotive market—specifically why a brand-new OEM is choosing a luxury pricing strategy while domestic and global competitors are aggressively pivoting toward affordability. If you ever care to discuss the pricing math or the corporate strategy, I’ll be here. Otherwise, I’m content to let the data stand on its own.

 

[tomgillotti]

I will admit to not knowing the Toyota trim hierarchy, but I just pulled up the configurator on their website and a 2026 Tundra Limited 4x4 with no other options is $60k. So it sounds like Scout is right where they need to be?

Regarding your comparison of the Scout to a 2026 Tundra Limited... this is a false equivalency. You are citing the Tundra's $60k price as if it justifies the Scout's pricing strategy, but that misses why the Tundra can command that price in the first place. Toyota has spent decades building a cult-like following that pays a premium for proven reliability, a global parts network, and a known long-term cost of ownership. That price tag reflects a verified, decades-old track record.

Scout has not earned that "reliability tax" yet. When you buy a Scout, you aren't paying for a Tundra’s legacy; you are paying to be an early adopter of a first-generation platform.

Furthermore, the mass-market audience that Scout is targeting is fundamentally different from the Toyota "cult" buyer. The Scout enthusiast isn't necessarily looking for a $60k++ luxury-spec cruiser; they are looking for the revival of a capable, utilitarian tool (Scout's own marketing, btw). By forcing the vehicle into a Tundra-level price bracket, Scout isn't appealing to the mass market; they are alienating the very people who wanted a modern, accessible utility vehicle. You can't capture a new market by assuming they will behave like Toyota loyalists.

 

[jeremydunworth]

In my industry we have saying "In god we trust, everyone else bring data". Here is some admittedly unvetted data

What a New Car Cost in 2001 vs. the Price of One Today

New car prices have skyrocketed. See how much the average vehicle cost in 2001 compares to today — and why cars feel less affordable now.

autos.yahoo.com

Hyundai Just Dropped the Price on the 2026 Ioniq 5 By Up to $9,800 As EV Tax Credit Ends - TFLcar

Hyundai just dropped prices on the 2026 Ioniq 5 EV by nearly $10K, just after the federal tax credit ended.

tflcar.com

https://www.abc27.com/automotive/2026-hyundai-ioniq-5-sales-surge-after-big-price-cuts/

I've also read about Hyundai's moves to secure sourcing, effectively use a combination of robots and human labor, and to build in the US thus avoiding tariffs for example:

Inside the Hyundai Metaplant, the World's Most Automated Car Factory

Hyundai's Metaplant uses AI and robots to create EVs with precision, aiming for 100% renewable energy by 2030.

spectrum.ieee.org

We also have another saying. "In the USA we print 'in god we trust' on the god we trust".

FWIW.

 

[strider]

Regarding your comparison of the Scout to a 2026 Tundra Limited... this is a false equivalency. You are citing the Tundra's $60k price as if it justifies the Scout's pricing strategy, but that misses why the Tundra can command that price in the first place. Toyota has spent decades building a cult-like following that pays a premium for proven reliability, a global parts network, and a known long-term cost of ownership. That price tag reflects a verified, decades-old track record.

Ok, I give up. You started this thread by complaining that automakers are deliberately overcharging truck buyers in order to pad their profits and now you are saying that $60k trucks are perfectly fine. I have now pushed the "Ignore" button on your profile. Good day sir.

 

[jeremydunworth]

In my industry we have saying "In god we trust, everyone else bring data". Here is some admittedly unvetted data

<delete links>

We also have another saying. "In the USA we print 'in god we trust' on the god we trust".

FWIW.

Also, in case you haven't looked, pay attention to what USED IH Scout IIs are selling for these days

Scout II

Browse and bid online for the chance to own a International Harvester Scout II at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online.

bringatrailer.com

 

[tomgillotti]

In my industry we have saying "In god we trust, everyone else bring data". Here is some admittedly unvetted data

What a New Car Cost in 2001 vs. the Price of One Today

New car prices have skyrocketed. See how much the average vehicle cost in 2001 compares to today — and why cars feel less affordable now.

autos.yahoo.com

Hyundai Just Dropped the Price on the 2026 Ioniq 5 By Up to $9,800 As EV Tax Credit Ends - TFLcar

Hyundai just dropped prices on the 2026 Ioniq 5 EV by nearly $10K, just after the federal tax credit ended.

tflcar.com

https://www.abc27.com/automotive/2026-hyundai-ioniq-5-sales-surge-after-big-price-cuts/

I've also read about Hyundai's moves to secure sourcing, effectively use a combination of robots and human labor, and to build in the US thus avoiding tariffs for example:

Inside the Hyundai Metaplant, the World's Most Automated Car Factory

Hyundai's Metaplant uses AI and robots to create EVs with precision, aiming for 100% renewable energy by 2030.

spectrum.ieee.org

We also have another saying. "In the USA we print 'in god we trust' on the god we trust".

FWIW.

@jeremydunworth, thank you for bringing actual, empirical data to this discussion. This is exactly the kind of evidence that cuts through the corporate talking points.

That first article completely dismantles the "it's just inflation" excuse. The data shows exactly what I have been arguing: while the buying power of the dollar has changed, the 139% spike in vehicle prices since 2001 is a direct result of automakers deliberately choosing to stock their showrooms with high-end, high-profit models. They aren't just passing along the cost of inflation; they are forcing feature creep to artificially pad their margins while entirely abandoning the affordable utility segment.

But your second link regarding the Hyundai Ioniq 5 price drop is the real smoking gun here. The fact that Hyundai could magically slash their MSRP by up to $9,800 almost overnight simply because the federal EV tax credit ended proves that these vehicle prices are heavily inflated. It exposes exactly what we have been saying: the current MSRPs of EVs aren't strictly dictated by the raw cost of batteries, steel, or manufacturing. They have massive profit margins baked right into the sticker price.

If a legacy automaker can carve nearly $10k out of a vehicle's base price just to maintain competitive pricing, it completely destroys the narrative that a brand new OEM like Scout has to set a $60,000 floor for a base model. They are choosing that $60k+ luxury price point because they want the luxury margins, not because the manufacturing math demands it.

 

[tomgillotti]

Ok, I give up. You started this thread by complaining that automakers are deliberately overcharging truck buyers in order to pad their profits and now you are saying that $60k trucks are perfectly fine. I have now pushed the "Ignore" button on your profile. Good day sir.

You said the same thing months ago... so, see you in a few months!?