The International Harvester Scout could be making a comeback under the aegis of the Volkswagen Group.
Johann de Nysschen, head of Volkswagen USA, openly floated the idea of building a Ford Bronco and Jeep Wrangler rival during a press event with US media.
According to Motor Trend, the former Infiniti and Cadillac CEO also noted that Volkswagen now has the rights to the Scout name for road-legal vehicles.
1962 Scout
While the original International Harvester Scout made from 1961 to 1980 had a separate body-on-frame design, petrol engines, and a selection of ute and SUV body styles, it’s likely any revival will be an SUV-only affair.
De Nysschen went on the record to say if a Scout-inspired revival was approved, it would be similar to the Rivian R1S in concept, but with prices starting from US$40,000 ($55,0000) rather than US$70,000 ($95,000).
For reference, the Ford Bronco range goes from US$28,500 ($39,000) all the way through to US$61,100 ($83,000) before options are tacked on.
1972 Scout
Given the desired price point, the Scout would likely be based on a version of the all-electric MEB architecture.
The German firm recently came into possession of the rights to the Scout name when its Traton commercial truck arm bought Navistar, the successor to International Harvester.
Volkswagen doesn’t own the rights to the International Harvester name, though. During the breakup of International Harvester in the early-to-mid 1980s, the International Harvester name and agricultural machines business was sold to rival Case, while the truck arm was spun off to become Navistar.
1976 Scout II
If the automaker did use the Scout name on a Wrangler-chasing EV, it could live on a Volkswagen-brand vehicle or be something more standalone, like what Ford is currently doing with the Bronco sub-brand that only features discreet Blue Oval badges on the tailgate.
