Austria-based car company Magna Steyr will cooperate with Volkswagen Group to design a new chassis for the company’s off-roader and pickup sub-brand Scout targeting the North American market, Motor1 reports.
Rumors about the collaboration had circulated for a while now, but this was the first time we heard an official confirmation from Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh. According to him, Magna Steyr – which is contracted by Mercedes-Benz to assemble the G-Class and also makes certain vehicles for BMW, Fisker, Jaguar and Toyota – will help Volkswagen design a ‘reliable and functional’ electric SUV platform for the United States and Canada.
At the same time, Keogh debunked the rumors that the company was just going to repurpose its existing MEB architecture for the revived Scout brand. He emphasized that the new platform is being designed from a blank slate. In all likelihood, Scout will not be the only badge to use it, though; VW is apparently also interested in producing at least one SUV on its basis.
Commenting on the readiness of the first production model, an all-electric body-on-frame SUV, Keogh said it was ‘between 85 and 95 percent’ done with all proportions and exterior appearance already finalized. The United States will be its primary distribution market. Six or seven months after its premiere, Scout will follow up with another model – a full-size pickup truck running on the same chassis and targeting the same market.