How the Scout buying and ownership experience will work

• Scout Terra pickup and Scout Traveler SUV can be purchased through an app
• Service will be available at Scout Workshops that will be located at most 200 miles from an estimated 85% of owners or through a mobile service
• Scout promises one listed price with no haggling, with test drives at a Scout facility

They’re three years away, but the Scout Terra pickup and Traveler SUV will follow the Tesla-style model that eschews dealerships and involves direct sales to customers. Not only that, but Scout will aim to get customers involved in a digital ecosystem to manage their purchases and ownership experience.

Customers can put down a $100 deposit today to reserve their Scout Terra or Traveler models at Scoutmotors.com. When the company is ready to begin sales, customers will be able to go to a Scout facility for a test drive. They will be able to configure and order their vehicles online or through the Scout mobile app, where they will be offered one transparent price with no haggling.

Once it’s clear a prospect intends to become a customer, Scout will have buyers download the Scout mobile app to complete their checkout. A finance arm is yet to be determined as Scout will not be part of VW Financial Services. However, finance will be available through the app as well.

Customers will then use the app to buy accessories, schedule service appointments, and even perform vehicle diagnostics. AI will be used to chat with customers about service issues and perform those diagnostics. The AI component will be able to connect to the vehicle, determine the service issue, advise customers of other service issues via remote diagnostics, provide a quote, and schedule the service. If the AI can’t handle the problem, a person will be able to take over the chat.

Service will be available at Scout Workshops and also be offered via mobile service units. Scout says that at launch 85% of customers will live within 200 miles of a Scout Workshop. The company expects that those who live within 45 miles of a Scout Workshop will come in for service. Those who live beyond 45 miles but within 200 miles will likely get their vehicles serviced by mobile providers. Those outside the 200-mile zone will be able to get service via traveling providers who may be in an area at a given time. Mobile providers will be able to rectify 80% of repairs, Scout says.

Every Scout will come with a 4-year/48,000-mile comprehensive warranty, a 7-year/100,000-mile electric drivetrain warranty, and an 8-year/100,000-mile battery warranty. Extended warranties will also be available.

At launch in 2027, Scout plans to have 25 “rooftops” available in 16 markets. Those rooftops will include the Scout Workshops that can do sales and service, Scout Studios that will only offer sales support, and one or more Scout Experience Centers that will also offer off-road driving experiences. The first Scout Experience Center will be open at the Scout factory in Blythewood, South Carolina, and it will also offer factory tours. Most of the initial rooftops will be Scout Workshops.

The number of rooftops are planned to expand to 55 by 2028, 69 by 2029, 79 by 2030, 87 by 2031, and 100 by 2032.