Volkswagen is reportedly in talks with Taiwan-based Apple iPhone manufacturer Foxconn to build the automaker's upcoming Scout brand off-road electric vehicles. According to the German publication Automobilwoche, VW is seeking a manufacturing partner for the revived brand, and Foxconn is not the only contender.
Austria-based Magna Steyr, which Canada's Magna International owns, is also being considered as a partner. No decision has been made just yet.
Foxconn already has a US manufacturing presence in Lordstown, Ohio. It bought the manufacturing facility from Lordstown Motors, which first purchased it from General Motors in 2019, for $230 million and has already begun production of the Endurance EV pickup truck.
Magna Steyr is considering opening a facility in the US, hence one reason for VW's interest in a partnership.
The latter option is particularly interesting because the Scout vehicles could be jointly developed with Magna. If you recall, Magna and Fisker signed a contract several months ago that will see the former build the Ocean EV SUV.
In response to the report, VW stated that it does "not comment on speculation regarding possible partnerships." Whichever option ultimately pans out, it's clear that VW is moving aggressively to get the Scout brand up and running.
Earlier this month, Scout released a teaser image of its upcoming EV truck and launched its website and an official fan forum simultaneously. Production is slated to begin in 2026, and prototypes are due to arrive sometime next year.
We can already confirm both the Scout truck and SUV will not ride on VW's MEB platform, which underpins the VW ID.4 and ID. Buzz.
Scout vehicles will instead utilize a new "technical platform concept." Former VW North America CEO Scott Keogh is now running Scout. His very successful tenure running VW (and Audi North America before that) makes him the ideal choice to get the revived Scout Motors up and running.
VW acquired Scout in 2020 when its Traton truck division took over Navistar International, previously known as International Harvester. Keogh and his team will probably have to finalize their choice between Foxconn or Magna Steyr soon to make that 2026 deadline.