Scout Motors was named after International Harvester a tough, rugged, American truck brand from 1961 to 1980. They had the Scout, Terra, and Traveler – all trucks that were designed to help farmers, workers, and off-road enthusiasts. International Harvester disintegrated in the 1980s and was never heard from again.

Volkswagen bought the Scout name in 2020 to turn it into an all-electric, off-road-ready truck brand. The first two models under the new sub-company, the Terra and the Traveler, were well-received. Volkswagen’s $5 billion investment in Rivian means some of Rivian’s best tech is included, and many suspected the design was inspired by the American brand, too. But we’ll let you decide that one.

The all-new Terra and Traveler from Scout can come with a gas engine, nicknamed a “Harvester,” to extend the range by an additional 150 miles. Therefore, if a buyer opted for a Harvester engine, their truck’s range would be over 500 miles.

Wouldn’t you know it, after reservations opened up, a majority of buyers opted for the Harvester option.

Scout CEO says range and charging anxiety are still a thing

Production for the Terra and Traveler is set to begin in Volkswagen’s South Carolina factory in 2027, and while the news is revealing, Scout Ceo Scott Keogh isn’t exactly upset about it.

“This gives us a 50-state vehicle,” he told Bloomberg TV during this year’s CES event. “The two challenges we see with electrification, charging infrastructure, and of course, this takes that all off the table. Plus, there’s convenience. I think with those two things, a range-extender makes a lot of sense.”

Volkswagen isn’t the only one borrowing from the dinos

Using gas-powered engines to extend a battery’s life isn’t a new thing, either. Ram is producing the Ram 1500 Ramcharger, which will utilize a 3.6-liter Pentastar engine that’s more or less designed to charge the battery instead of powering the wheels, like the Harvester.

In tandem with the engine, the Ramcharger is said to achieve a range of over 600 miles, be able to tow over 14,000 pounds, and have a payload capacity of over 2,000 pounds.