--- title: "VW Dealers Still Worried About Being Left Out of Scout EV Plans" description: "Due to the uncertainty surrounding Volkswagen's plans to distribute Scout EVs, U.S. dealers are still worried." date: "2022-05-29" modified: "2022-05-29" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/vw-dealers-still-worried-about-being-left-out-of-scout-ev-plans" categories: - "Car Tech" - "Electric Vehicles" - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Volkswagen News" tags: - "Electric Vehicle" - "Off-Road" - "suv/crossover" - "Volkswagen" --- # VW Dealers Still Worried About Being Left Out of Scout EV Plans ![]() *\Volkswagen\* Volkswagen made big headlines recently when it unexpectedly announced it would be [reviving the Scout](), the long-lost American truck. In 2021, Volkswagen acquired the Scout brand name and then, just a couple of weeks ago, decided to announce its revival as an EV truck and SUV maker. The Scout brand will be its own, under the Volkswagen Group umbrella and U.S. Volkswagen dealerships are unhappy about the uncertainty surrounding its distribution. While [Volkswagen ]()hasn't provided any official retail distribution plan, its recent answers are worrying dealers. "Everything that I know has been reported and you have reported it," VW Group North America CEO Scott Keogh told[ *Automotive News*]() on Friday. "First and foremost, Scout is and always was a unique and distinctly American brand — big-time Americana — so it won't be operated through the Volkswagen brand. In fact, it won't be operated through Volkswagen Group of America. It will be operated independently." That sounds a lot like VW wants to sell Scout at its own dealerships, much like Audi and Porsche. However, due to Keogh's lack of clarity surrounding Scout's revival and distribution, Volkswagen dealerships are unhappy. ![Volkswagen Scout EV Sketch]() *VW* According to *Automotive News*, NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association) CEO Mike Stanton issued a letter to Keogh, asking him to "quickly and clearly communicate Scout's distribution plan to your dealers who have made significant investments to support VW's business model and transformation to electrification." Volkswagen dealers want the opportunity to also become Scout dealers and feel they've shown enough loyalty to Volkswagen to deserve it, having been put through a lot in recent years, such as the infamous diesel-gate and recently investing in electrification. North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association President Robert Glaser feels that "the underlying reason VW is planning to create a parallel \[Scout\] dealer network is VW's intention to reduce the VW dealer count." Glaser isn't alone, as several other dealership association heads recently echoed similar statements. "As a company that promotes the value of partnership, the Scout line belongs with the VW dealers," said Texas Automobile Dealers Association President Darren Whitehurst. Of course, this is all subject to change, as Scout is barely even a brand at this point, it's just a name with a concept sketch. There are no employees, no office, and no official car in the works. It's just a promise of nostalgia and a revival of some classic Americana. Earlier in the week, VW Group CEO Herbert Diess claimed that a site for the multibillion-dollar manufacturing plant would be chosen in the U.S. by the end of the year but that's about all that's officially been said. But while Volkswagen hasn't completely ruled out letting VW dealerships sell Scout models, that doesn't seem to be the direction that the Germans are headed. *Got tips? Send them over to nicolas.demattia@teamrecurrent.io* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()