Extra, Extra....Read All About It!

[Chuckles]

You may have missed the excerpts that I posted where VW Group very much indicated that Scout Motors is not merely an investment. They are directing Scout Motors decisions. It’s more akin to a subsidiary, or worse. That is not the impression I think most folks here previously had.

You may have missed the excerpts that I posted where VW Group very much indicated that Scout Motors is not merely an investment. They are directing Scout Motors decisions. It’s more akin to a subsidiary, or worse actually because a subsidiary is typically independent. That is not the impression I think most folks here previously had.

It makes sense to me that a majority investor in a company will have a say in how their money is spent (unless it's specified in their agreement). How tight the leash is varies. Toyota owns 20% of Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru. Guess what? Toyota has a say in how Subaru does business. Ford owned around a third of Mazda in the 80's and 90's. Their influence was felt at Mazda too (Mazda Navajo, anyone?).
Scout is a kick-ass all-new product designed and built by talented, passionate, and hard-working people in the USA. That's all that matters to me.

 

[Tyler88]

Also I thought about it I think there is still a possibility that the range extender get built in the US but really it depends on how bad the tariffs get for engines shipped from Mexico and if VW does try to build an engine plant in the US or just extend the South Carolina Factory to allow for the range extender to be built there, though I am not someone in logistics or anything like that so I am just thinking this and am not sure how possible any of it is

 

[OH1984]

Also I thought about it I think there is still a possibility that the range extender get built in the US but really it depends on how bad the tariffs get for engines shipped from Mexico and if VW does try to build an engine plant in the US or just extend the South Carolina Factory to allow for the range extender to be built there, though I am not someone in logistics or anything like that so I am just thinking this and am not sure how possible any of it is

Considering the image and multiple statements about being built in America, putting Americans back to work, etc this seems worth the effort to build the harvester engines here also imo.

 

[THil08]

 

[OH1984]

Should be a choice. I love BEV but that’s just me and he’s not wrong.

 

[dreamweaver]

With more EV choses in all vehicle segments and the infrastructure to support them mandates would not be necessary.

 

[OH1984]

With more EV choses in all vehicle segments and the infrastructure to support them mandates would not be necessary.

Agreed. Once tech is up there I think many more will get them. It’s so convenient and drives like a dream.

 

[N Wilson]

Volkswagen Group is the parent company based in Germany. Since VW is an investor in Scout Motors, it is relevant to VW shareholders who have a right to know how VW is spending its money. Scout Motors is an independent company, not part of Volkswagen Group of America (responsible for VW, Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini in the USA, along with Electrify America and Volkswagen Financial Services).
It's not a surprise that the Harvester engine is coming from Mexico. VW doesn't make engines in the USA, and the cost of importing a tariffed engine is still cheaper in the short term than building an engine plant here from the ground up.

^^^This^^^

I would caution against people reading things like that article and deciding that it means the DTC model is off the table. It's no secret that VW is the sole financial backer of SM, but the details of how Scout has the company structured as an independent entity do matter.

Think about it this way. A lot of really smart and capable people like Cody Thacker and many others are pouring their valuable time and energy into advocating at state legislatures, etc for the DTC model. Do you think they'd be wasting their time on that if they believed it was a foregone conclusion that Scout will be sold at VW dealerships? I suspect the answer is no, and I for one am going to wait and see what happens before jumping to conclusions.

I have faith in Scout and the many dedicated people that are tirelessly working to make the DTC option a reality.

 

[cyure]

^^^This^^^

I would caution against people reading things like that article and deciding that it means the DTC model is off the table. It's no secret that VW is the sole financial backer of SM, but the details of how Scout has the company structured as an independent entity do matter.

Think about it this way. A lot of really smart and capable people like Cody Thacker and many others are pouring their valuable time and energy into advocating at state legislatures, etc for the DTC model. Do you think they'd be wasting their time on that if they believed it was a foregone conclusion that Scout will be sold at VW dealerships? I suspect the answer is no, and I for one am going to wait and see what happens before jumping to conclusions.

I have faith in Scout and the many dedicated people that are tirelessly working to make the DTC option a reality.

Maybe I’m wrong but I didn’t think VW was the only investor. I thought they were the majority investor. And I agree. I don’t think they would put all this effort into DTC if they weren’t serious.

 

[AlanL]

Maybe I’m wrong but I didn’t think VW was the only investor. I thought they were the majority investor. And I agree. I don’t think they would put all this effort into DTC if they weren’t serious.

The Motor Trend interview has a section starting at 27:25 on "Understanding Scout Motors' Relationship with Volkswagen". Scott starts by saying Scout is part of the VW Group as a US LLC reporting into the VW Group. He goes on to say the VW Group is the sole funder right now, but Scout is structured to seek other partners, outside capital, go public if they want. So yes, the VW Group very much cares what happens with Scout and will help them along. But Scout can operate independently where they feel it is necessary. The VW auto brand should have no rights to demand to sell products from other companies that are part of the VW Group. The execs at Scout aren't dummies or posturing posers, I'm sure they are confident of winning in court. Have faith. Now about winning in state legislatures, ...

 

[MasterSpam]

Yeah you seem to be repeating the same lines.

Do you have evidence that they havent achieved this step in making Thorium reactors a viable solution, or is this based off of feelings and stereotypes?

They have leapfrogged the US EV industry so I have little doubt that they are pursuing alternative sources of energy that are more sustainable since EV adoption is skyrocketing there while America is actively trying to slow it.

China operates two thorium reactors.

As for their poluting habits "
https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/asia-pacific/20230623-118053/

According to the document, water containing about 143 trillion becquerels of tritium was released from Qinshan III Nuclear Power Plant in Zhejiang Province in 2020. In 2021, water containing about 112 trillion becquerels was released from the Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station in Guangdong Province, 102 trillion becquerels from the Ningde Nuclear Power Plant in Fujian Province and 90 trillion becquerels from the Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant in Liaoning Province."

https://www.npr.org/2023/03/02/1160441919/china-is-building-six-times-more-new-coal-plants-than-other-countries-report-fin

China permitted more coal power plants last year than any time in the last seven years, according to a new report released this week. It's the equivalent of about two new coal power plants per week. The report by energy data organizations Global Energy Monitor and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air finds the country quadrupled the amount of new coal power approvals in 2022 compared to 2021.

 

[THil08]

Nothing more American than watching the Kentucky Derby. Only not so American thing is that I didn’t see ONE scout commercial. Sad!

 

[dreamweaver]

Nothing more American than watching the Kentucky Derby. Only not so American thing is that I didn’t see ONE scout commercial. Sad!

Seems like a missed opportunity. Derby has a huge following.

 

[THil08]

Seems like a missed opportunity. Derby has a huge following.

And it has a bunch of farmer that own trucks. And im sure most of them at one point probably had a Scout.

 

[Czernobog]

Maybe I’m wrong but I didn’t think VW was the only investor. I thought they were the majority investor. And I agree. I don’t think they would put all this effort into DTC if they weren’t serious.

Pretty certain I read or saw an interview at some point in which Keogh said VWAG is the sole investor for Scout.

 

[Czernobog]

It said it was reported in the Earnings call for VW Group, I wonder if there’s a transcript of it.

https://seekingalpha.com/article/4779667-volkswagen-ag-vwagy-q1-2025-earnings-call-transcript

Was never mentioned, safe to say that was assumption.

It looks like Mexico sourcing of the Harvester engine for Scout was mentioned twice in that earnings call transcript. Neither completely definitive statements, but strongly suggestive that is the current plan.

Second, I would understand completely your question, and I still understand it, but I would understand it if we would stick to 100% BEV strategy for Scout. But having a really convincing concept introduced with a range extender, with engine coming locally from Mexico for 500 miles of range, really positive customer feedback on that topic and they basically 80% rate for the preorders moving to that range extender, we are much more optimistic that we can hit the planned volumes first. And second, yes, there are also chances to include other activities in the factory in South Carolina, and we also look into that as well.
...
No, there's, of course, we have a plant in Mexico, an engine plant. And what I just mentioned is, for example, we call it, 2/11 [ph] in English. In German, we call it, [Foreign Language]. This plant is basically producing the engines for Volkswagen and they go into the Volkswagen cars. And this would be also the potential engine for the Range Extender for the Scout. Not a turbocharged version, naturally aspirated, but this is so -- we still use that.

Interestingly the first excerpt suggested the potential exists to expand the scope of the Blythewood manufacturing facility to include engine production.

 

[THil08]

These guys are coming back

Welcome - Tritium Charging

tritiumcharging.com

 

[oldgeeksguide]

Good video on paraplegic access and other things, including:

• Ingress/egress
• Height
• Hand controls for gas/brake
• Towing
• Horses!

Fortunately this is a subject I know nothing about, so it was pretty interesting to me.

 

[Tyler88]

It looks like Mexico sourcing of the Harvester engine for Scout was mentioned twice in that earnings call transcript. Neither completely definitive statements, but strongly suggestive that is the current plan.


Interestingly the first excerpt suggested the potential exists to expand the scope of the Blythewood manufacturing facility to include engine production.

I think they are still deciding on what to do mainly because no one knows how much the tariffs will affect it so I don’t really think they are going to commit to were it is going to be built but I still would prefer the range extender to be built in the US

 

[J Alynn]

I think they are still deciding on what to do mainly because no one knows how much the tariffs will affect it so I don’t really think they are going to commit to were it is going to be built but I still would prefer the range extender to be built in the US

I just don’t see them getting that up and running in time unless they delay the EREV launch. And then what happens in new administration comes in and dissolves the tariffs-now you’ve built a large plant and paying premium wages vs just eating the engine tariff. Easiest way around it is go BEV then no issue. Since the harvester (in my mind) is an upgrade/enhanced feature the cost will be what it is. IF I were looking at Harvester I’d rather have the engine come from Germany than Mexico just based on quality from experience I’ve heard from VW techs.