Latest news with #TravelerSUV
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Scout hires former Bentley exec as COO, names new production boss
Scout Motors has bolstered its leadership ranks by hiring one veteran Volkswagen Group executive for the newly created role of COO and elevated another to be its production boss. Jan-Henrik Lafrentz joined Scout as COO on April 1. He was previously Bentley Motors' board member for finance and information technology. The British ultraluxury brand in February said Lafrentz was departing for a new position within the VW Group. Lafrentz joined VW Group in 1994 and has held finance, sales and marketing roles at Audi, Seat, MAN heavy trucks and Bentley. Sign up to get our afternoon video email. The video focuses on a new topic in the news each day. Scout said its new COO role will support the company's growth and ambitions as it transitions from EV startup to full-scale operations. 'His deep expertise in automotive finance and operations and his proven leadership will be key as we grow our company and scale our business,' Scout said in an email. In October, Scout revealed its two initial vehicles, the Terra pickup and Traveler SUV, designed and engineered specifically for the U.S., where VW Group has longed for a greater market presence. Lafrentz is based in Columbia, S.C., near where Scout is constructing a $2 billion assembly plant in Blythewood, S.C. He will also spend a substantial amount of time at Scout's R&D center in the Detroit area, a Scout spokesperson said. Scout CFO Chris Condon will report to Lafrentz, the company said. Scout also named Oliver Wollinsky chief production officer. Wollinsky, previously Scout's vice president of production, takes over for Jan Spies, who died in January. Scout broke ground on the assembly plant in February 2024. Output at the Scout Motors Production Center is set to begin in 2027. Wollinsky joined Scout in 2024 after serving as plant manager for the SAIC-Volkswagen joint venture in China. Scout said Wollinsky oversaw the construction of two manufacturing facilities and helped develop VW Group's first EV exclusive production site. Wollinsky also held production roles with Mercedes-Benz. Have an opinion about this story? Tell us about it and we may publish it in print. Click here to submit a letter to the editor.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
What is Scout's "Harvester range extender?"
Scout is still working on building the Traveler SUV and the Terra pickup truck, both of which will be powered exclusively by a battery electric system. While we don't know the battery size yet, the Scout Traveler SUV is supposed to have an 800-volt battery architecture with a 350 kW DC fast charging and bidirectional capability. The pickup and SUV, both capable of an estimated 350-mile range, will share many of the same components, including one that helps extend the models' range. The so-called "Harvester" range-extending system (REX) claims to extend the Traveler and Terra's range to approximately 500 miles, but how does it work?This is not a new idea in the EV world. A while back, the BMW i3 used a scooter motor paired with a tiny gas tank to power an optional REX system hidden in the rear of the vehicle. This system allowed the vehicle to roughly double its range. "To account for different work needs, we're planning to offer the choice of two energy systems: an all-electric system, or a gas-powered range extender called Harvester. The Harvester Range Extender is a generator packaged in the vehicle platform that will recharge the vehicle's high voltage battery. It will extend the expected range to over 500 miles (based on manufacturer estimates, EPA estimates will be provided when available)," Scout Motors said. Scout's parent company Volkswagen has yet to release any technical information about the REX system, but we know they are looking for a cost-effective, lightweight, and rugged setup. This is not an easy ask. Still, it's the best of both worlds. Not only can it truly overland, charge itself, and tow up to 7,000 lbs, the system is bi-directional, an incredibly useful resource that can power just about anything that needs of the biggest enemies of any EV is weight. It's hard enough keeping the weight off when you are dragging a massive battery around, let alone heavy off-road accessories, drag-inducing tires, and boxy shapes. All of these factors hinder an EV's range. A REX system will be heavy, too, which will further affect the range figure. There is also the added complexity of having the REX system. Suddenly, you're back to changing fluids, oiling, and fueling something that creates carbon waste. Perhaps the next focus of EV manufacturers should be how to keep REX systems clean and reliable. Despite these few downsides, I would suspect that Scout's Harvester range extending system will be a popular choice. For many, they will barely use it, while others will rely on it often. I personally like the idea of massive range to not only go way off the beaten path, but also to have the power to return to civilization and/or power up a campsite. We're excited to learn the technical details of the REX system and see improved iterations of it in future EVs. Love reading Autoblog? Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get exclusive articles, insider insights, and the latest updates delivered right to your inbox. Click here to sign up now!
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
South Carolina bill that could let Scout, other EV brands sell direct to consumer stalls
A South Carolina bill that would allow Scout Motors, Tesla and other electric vehicle brands to sell directly to consumers appears to have stalled after a committee adjourned debate on it. The labor, commerce and industry subcommittee in the state's House of Representatives held an hourlong hearing on the South Carolina Consumer Freedom Act on Feb. 12. South Carolina law currently prohibits direct-to-consumer vehicle sales. The bill, introduced Jan. 16 in the state's House of Representatives, is designed to apply to manufacturers that haven't previously held a franchise dealership agreement. Sign up to get our afternoon video email. The video focuses on a new topic in the news each day. Because the committee adjourned debate, the bill has been put on ice, according to local media reports. The legislative session began Jan. 14 and is scheduled to run through May 8. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, a Republican, told local media on Feb. 3 that he would sign the bill if it reached his desk. South Carolina State Rep. Mark Smith, a Republican and the bill's lead sponsor, told the South Carolina Daily Gazette after the hearing that it's 'very clear a lot of work needs to be done on this for both sides.' Smith did not return phone calls seeking comment from Automotive News. Scout did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Supporters and opponents of the bill voiced frustration during the hearing. 'Nobody is asking to put franchise dealers out of business,' said Cody Thacker, Scout's vice president of growth. 'We're simply asking South Carolina to remove an antiquated regulation that prevents consumers from making their own economic decisions.' E. Sims Floyd Jr., executive vice president of the South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association, said the South Carolina Consumer Freedom Act is not a freedom of choice bill. Instead, Floyd said, it 'is a serious attempt by Volkswagen to do away with the franchise law.' Three dealers spoke against the bill during the hearing including Marc White, who owns Audi Greenville and Steve White Volkswagen in Greenville, S.C. When Scout first revealed plans to build a manufacturing plant in Blythewood, S.C., in March 2023, White emailed Thacker, a former contact at Audi of America. White told Thacker he would be interested in becoming a Scout dealer in Greenville, going so far as to note that his company had acquired land off of Interstate 85 suitable for a dealership. White said Thacker emailed him a nice message back but said Scout was early in the process of figuring out its retail plans. Thacker, White recalled, said he would keep the dealer in mind. 'I never heard back from Cody about opening that Scout point because Volkswagen had other plans,' White said. Scout in October unveiled prototypes of two vehicles, the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup, and said it would pursue direct-to-consumer sales. White took issue with VW Group's decision to finally bring a pickup to the U.S. market but only via Scout and not through its existing dealer network. White said VW dealers have been asking for a pickup for years and have watched other import brands introduce pickups in the U.S. 'It undercuts the investments that have been made by us dealer partners of Volkswagen,' White said of Scout's retail plans. 'That doesn't sit well with me.' White said he would still build a Scout facility on his property and retail and service those vehicles at his expense. 'It's really a shame the position that Scout has put all of us in, and I hope this committee will ensure this bill will not move forward,' White said. Zach Khan, senior managing policy adviser at Tesla, spoke in support of the bill and said the EV brand has sold more than 13,000 vehicles to South Carolina residents even though buyers have to travel out of state to take delivery of a vehicle. 'Tesla wants to be a much bigger part of the impressive South Carolina economic success story, but we have to be welcomed in the state in order to do so,' Khan said.
