The electric car maker is setting up its global headquarters and bringing about 1,200 jobs to the Queen City.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. โ A new headquarters for an electric car company is coming to Charlotte.
The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance and Gov. Josh Stein made the announcement in Uptown on Wednesday afternoon.ย
Stein officially announced that Scout Motorsย would set up its global headquarters in the Queen City. About 1,200 jobs will be brought to Charlotte with the establishment of Scout’s home base in Plaza Midwood, just outside of Uptown. The governor also said many of those jobs would include corporate leadership, research and development, marketing and add nearly $5 billion to North Carolina’s economy.
“This announcement is the result of a strong collaboration by company executives, state and local elected officials from both parties, and state, local, and nonprofit economic development professionals,” Stein said.
Scout Motors CEO Scott Keohg says this will bring all kinds of jobs to the city.ย
โWe need sales, we need marketing, we need software, we need AI,” Keohg said. “We need engineering this place. We think we can get the talent.โย
Keohg said Charlotte was chosen after Scout officials evaluated numerous cities and states. ย
“All the things about livability, work-life balance, the schools, the education, great weather and of course, having this ecosystem where it’s close to the factory is critical,” he said.ย
Stein says selling the Queen City was an easy task for the state.ย
“The quality of life is remarkable here,” Stein said. “We’re in mid-November, it’s 70 degrees outside. That helps when you’re selling a state.”ย
Keogh also shared a reflection on the journey the company has been on so far after accepting a vase designed by North Carolina potter Ben Owen as a gift from Stein as he took the podium. Keogh shared his enthusiasm for the move to Charlotte.
“Three years ago, we were two employees with an idea,” he said. “Not just to bring back a relic, but to bring back a revolution and getting America back to manufacturing things, dreaming things, and doing things again. And that’s exactly what we’re up to.”
Who is Scout Motors?ย
The Scout vehicle badge originally dates back to 1959, with the first models built and sold in the U.S. in 1961, produced by International at the time. Scout vehicles were made until 1980. It was originally started in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
International, which now mainly produces commercial vehicles like tractor-trailers, was eventually acquired by the Volkswagen Automotive Group. Scout was relaunched as a Volkswagen division in 2022, focusing on the creation of off-road electric vehicles.
Scout currently focuses on making two vehicles: the Traveler SUV and the Terra pickup truck. However, neither model is presently available. Both vehicles are set to go on sale in late 2027 as 2028 model-year vehicles.
How far can a Scout vehicle go on a charge?
Scout projects that both the Traveler and the Terra can get about 350 miles on a pure electric charge. However, it is also planning to launch extended-range models that feature a built-in gas generator to complement the electric battery and would see driving ranges of around 500 miles.
How much will a Scout vehicle cost?ย
The company doesn’t have an exact price laid out yet. However, its own website said base models will start at under $60,000.
Does Scout already have operations elsewhere?ย
The announcement of setting up a headquarters in Charlotte is the latest announcement for the company.ย In October 2024, Scout announced it would build its cars at a new facility in Blythewood, South Carolina.
Contact Bria Smith at bsmith6@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook andย Instagram.
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