Scout Motors has begun validation builds of the Terra pickup truck and Traveler SUV at its new $2 billion manufacturing plant in Blythewood, South Carolina. The VW Group subsidiary broke ground on the facility roughly two and a half years ago and is now testing production processes as construction nears completion.
Both vehicles are scheduled for the 2028 model year and will start under $60,000. Scout plans to launch them as hybrid and electric body-on-frame off-roaders that combine modern features with the practical design of the original Scout models from the 1960s and '70s.
The validation phase will continue through 2027, followed by refined pre-production vehicles before final production begins. The body shop is equipped with more than 750 AI-supported robots to monitor roughly 5,000 weld points per vehicle for quality assurance. At full capacity, the facility will process about 40 vehicles per hour. Scout expects first deliveries in 2028, aligning with CEO Scott Keogh's prior projection that vehicles would reach customers by the end of 2027.