Scout Motors Needs to Rethink “Local” Service. Don't do the Tesla model.

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mastertroll

Active member
Jun 29, 2025
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Hot Springs Village
One of the biggest concerns I have with Scout Motors’ current service plan is the definition of “local.” According to their roadmap, they aim to have service centers—called Scout Workshops—within 200 miles of 85% of buyers. On paper, that sounds reasonable. But in practice, it’s a logistical headache.

For many of us, especially those living in rural areas or smaller cities, a 200-mile drive isn’t local—it’s a full-day commitment. That’s hundreds of miles round-trip just to get a vehicle looked at, let alone repaired. And if the issue isn’t resolved in one visit, you’re repeating that journey again and again. It’s not convenient.

This is where Scout has a real opportunity to do better. They’re backed by Volkswagen, a company with an established nationwide service network. Why not leverage that infrastructure? Let VW service Scout vehicles for routine maintenance and diagnostics while Scout builds out its own specialized support. That would give customers real local access—not just a theoretical radius on a map.

If Scout wants to win over buyers who value practicality as much as innovation, they need to rethink what “local service” really means. Because for most of us, 200 miles isn’t it.

Having owned a Tesla, I can say the service experience was one of the biggest reasons I ultimately let it go. While the vehicle itself was impressive in many ways, the logistics of getting it serviced were anything but. I often had to drive several hours across state lines—for even basic repairs or diagnostics. Scheduling was inconsistent, communication was frustrating, and mobile service, while helpful, couldn’t handle more complex issues. It became clear that the convenience of ownership was undermined by the lack of accessible, reliable support. That experience left a lasting impression. If you want to get more purchases, please consider.
 
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Along the lines of this servicing discussion, I just experienced a clicking noise from the front-end of my R1T when driving slowly (either forward or backwards) with the wheel turned. I noticed it while parallel parking, and then just replicated it while backing into my driveway. The Rivian app asks you to upload media with any service request so I recorded it and submitted it into the app, and then chose my local service center. This pops up a calendar with the next available dates for service. The first available date from today for me to get service shows as MID-DECEMBER right now. This is pretty shocking as an owner! I'm not sure if there is something going on locally or if the job market for qualified techs in my area is so wacky that there is a significant shortfall across the board, or if this is something specific to Rivian right now. Scaling a good service network is going to be challenging for any new entrant. I'm sure Scout is working through this already, and I know service for almost anything these days takes longer. With the rise of AI, hopefully we see more qualified and interested people looking at the trades, healthcare and similar businesses, because there will be a ton of job opportunities out there. in the interim, I hope my appointment in 4 months is moved forward!!!
 
Along the lines of this servicing discussion, I just experienced a clicking noise from the front-end of my R1T when driving slowly (either forward or backwards) with the wheel turned. I noticed it while parallel parking, and then just replicated it while backing into my driveway. The Rivian app asks you to upload media with any service request so I recorded it and submitted it into the app, and then chose my local service center. This pops up a calendar with the next available dates for service. The first available date from today for me to get service shows as MID-DECEMBER right now. This is pretty shocking as an owner! I'm not sure if there is something going on locally or if the job market for qualified techs in my area is so wacky that there is a significant shortfall across the board, or if this is something specific to Rivian right now. Scaling a good service network is going to be challenging for any new entrant. I'm sure Scout is working through this already, and I know service for almost anything these days takes longer. With the rise of AI, hopefully we see more qualified and interested people looking at the trades, healthcare and similar businesses, because there will be a ton of job opportunities out there. in the interim, I hope my appointment in 4 months is moved forward!!!
Oh for goodness sake!
 
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Along the lines of this servicing discussion, I just experienced a clicking noise from the front-end of my R1T when driving slowly (either forward or backwards) with the wheel turned. I noticed it while parallel parking, and then just replicated it while backing into my driveway. The Rivian app asks you to upload media with any service request so I recorded it and submitted it into the app, and then chose my local service center. This pops up a calendar with the next available dates for service. The first available date from today for me to get service shows as MID-DECEMBER right now. This is pretty shocking as an owner! I'm not sure if there is something going on locally or if the job market for qualified techs in my area is so wacky that there is a significant shortfall across the board, or if this is something specific to Rivian right now. Scaling a good service network is going to be challenging for any new entrant. I'm sure Scout is working through this already, and I know service for almost anything these days takes longer. With the rise of AI, hopefully we see more qualified and interested people looking at the trades, healthcare and similar businesses, because there will be a ton of job opportunities out there. in the interim, I hope my appointment in 4 months is moved forward!!!
Lets hope the noise doesn't turn into something more serious in the next four months. Wish you luck.
 
Yes, to be clear, this is the longest I have ever had to wait for local service, AND it is not a full indication of what is happening across the board obviously... Not sure what wait times are like at other Rivian SC's right now.
 
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I'm ok with dealers being far and wide, as long as it is easy for me as a customer to look up parts diagrams and order parts. I can understand not wanting to allow owners to work on any of the high voltage stuff, but everything else should be fair game. One of tesla's major issues is they are treating a car like a smart phone. I want my vehicle to be treated like a hobby grade RC car where I can look up and order any of the parts I need in about 5 minutes.

Right to repair being a major focus fights right in with Scout's stated values and would really set them apart in a crowded and competetive market
I am fully in agreement with you here. Well said. This would be a game-changer for me. Especially because I’m certain I will easily be 250 to 350 miles from a SM service center even when they finally arrive to my region.
 
I’m worried it’ll fall victim to the fact that there are no actuary tables for Scout Motors reliability, repairability, or longevity. I wouldn’t be surprised if insurance companies hedge their bets against a new brand by having high premiums. And at least for the first few years, it wouldn’t surprise me if they total a lot of perfectly repairable vehicles because body shops, adjusters, and everyone else in the line don’t know how much it will really cost to repair.

I hope I’m wrong.
I hope that you’re wrong too, but sadly I don’t believe that you are.
 
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I am fully in agreement with you here. Well said. This would be a game-changer for me. Especially because I’m certain I will easily be 250 to 350 miles from a SM service center even when they finally arrive to my region.
Well Scout Motors has stated that these vehicle will be 80% driveway repairable. I must assume thats because their intention is to have available parts and knowledge base to repair available to the owners. Lets hope this is true.
 
I know I’m all sunshine and roses and positive attitude but I’m not planning on my Scout having maintenance issues. I know things will come up but I have faith in Scout that they are going to build a quality product.
This right here…that’s the thing. If Scout can work hard to produce a quality and reliable product, well then a lot of these service concerns and hassles could be a non-issue. I know nothing is perfect and service visits will happen, but SM has an opportunity here to get it right and keep those numbers low. What a way to build brand-loyalty and community.
 
As an owner of a Polestar whose nearest service center is 60 miles and an eternity of non-responsive service managers away, please, in the name of all that is holy, let Volkswagen help you with this as authorized service centers.

While my Polestar is trouble-free, on a lease I'm expected to perform scheduled maintenance as scheduled - but the Denver service center is utterly unreachable, and I've exhaustively documented this with Polestar who is apparently powerless to get the dealer to even call me back to schedule a service.

Would be great if I could take my Polestar to the local Volvo dealer to get greased and whatever else they do to EVs at scheduled services.

I also expect that I can change my Harvester's oil, air and oil filters, spark plugs, and fuel filters myself without having to drop the engine. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE design for user maintainability!!!!
 
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Yes, to be clear, this is the longest I have ever had to wait for local service, AND it is not a full indication of what is happening across the board obviously... Not sure what wait times are like at other Rivian SC's right now.
Polestar is the same in my area. If their online app even works, I tried in June to schedule a regular mileage-based service, and they were offering November.

Now the service center won't even call me back, even with Polestar corporate customer relations involved.

My first Polestar 2 saved my life. I'm on my second. It will be my last. Service matters.
 
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As an owner of a Polestar whose nearest service center is 60 miles and an eternity of non-responsive service managers away, please, in the name of all that is holy, let Volkswagen help you with this as authorized service centers.
This won't happen. There is no way VW dealers will sign on to do service without being able to sell the cars as well. VW dealers are some of the ones suing Scout for cutting them out, claiming that Scout is a subsidiary of VW. Dealers are mad that they can't sell that underbody coating!

I expect they will follow Tesla's (and Rivian's I believe) model of mobile techs initially and then service centers in areas that have critical mass to keep the techs busy. When I moved back to OK in 2016 with our 2 Teslas, the tech was covering Oklahoma and West Arkansas. He would spend a day or 2 per week in each metro area.
 
This won't happen. There is no way VW dealers will sign on to do service and not be able to sell the cars as well. VW dealers are some of the ones suing Scout for cutting them out, claiming that Scout is a subsidiary of VW. Dealers are mad that they can't sell that underbody coating!
I will happily sacrifice having VW as service centers to not have to use them as a dealer.
 
This won't happen. There is no way VW dealers will sign on to do service without being able to sell the cars as well. VW dealers are some of the ones suing Scout for cutting them out, claiming that Scout is a subsidiary of VW. Dealers are mad that they can't sell that underbody coating!

I expect they will follow Tesla's (and Rivian's I believe) model of mobile techs initially and then service centers in areas that have critical mass to keep the techs busy. When I moved back to OK in 2016 with our 2 Teslas, the tech was covering Oklahoma and West Arkansas. He would spend a day or 2 per week in each metro area.
100% agree with you. And with VW suing why would SM want to trust them to maintain the SM reputation
 
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