South Carolinians got their first in-person look this past weekend at the Scout Motors electric truck and SUV that will be rolling off assembly lines in Richland County in a few years.
Scout Motors officials rolled out their newly unveiled concept vehicles -- the Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra truck -- at two events Nov. 15 and 16.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, state legislators and Richland County officials were among more than 100 people who gathered at 701 Whaley on Friday, Nov. 15, for a special preview reception.
Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh and Scout Motors VP of Exterior Design Jordan Meadows were on hand to share the vision of the company and the concepts behind the two vehicles, which take the iconic Scout brand first produced in the 1960s and move it into today's world through revitalizing the brand as an electric vehicle with the same rugged offroad capacity as the original Scout.
The Traveler SUV and Terra truck were first revealed to the South Carolina market on Oct. 24 at a live-streamed event from Franklin, Tenn. This was the first chance residents had to see them in person, and the 701 Whaley crowd erupted into applause as they were unveiled.
"We're taking the genetics and roots of the brand and evolving it," Meadows said. "We want to capture the spirit of Scout and make it relevant today. We have a strong philosophy of capturing the best of our heritage and expressing it in the best way possible today."
Meadows described the unique design elements of the Terra and Traveler, pointing out elements that were drawn from the original Scout vehicles and incorporated into the concept designs.
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He pointed out elements of the vehicles' interiors, including storage capacity, bench seating and buttons that can be used for climate control and other functions, a move away from touch screens because "you shouldn't have to go through eight layers of software to turn the AC on."
One announcement that drew loud applause from the crowd was Meadows' description of the Harvester optional extended range electric vehicle (EREV). This package will include a small internal combustion engine alongside the vehicles' high voltage battery, which will extend the range to more than 500 miles.
Meadows said the Harvester option will allow Scout Motors to adapt to future market demand for EVs and continued demand for customers who prefer the option of an internal combustion engine.
"This future-proofs the platform so as the markets ebb and flow we're not going to get stuck," he said.
After the speeches, the crowd gathered around the vehicles to take a closer look at both the interiors and exteriors. Many people climbed behind the wheel for photo ops or took group photos and selfies posed in front of them.
The reactions to the two vehicles were overwhelmingly positive. Many on Friday night were glad to be able to see them in person.
"These are beautiful -- seeing them just through video didn't do them justice," one woman said.
Richland County Councilman Derrek Pugh said the chance to view the vehicles gave an important look into the county's economic future.
"These beautiful vehicles show Scout Motors' commitment to South Carolina and a greener future," Pugh said. "This is a monumental moment for both South Carolina and Richland County."
Football crowds got a look at the vehicles on Saturday when they were displayed outside of WIlliams-Brice Stadium for five hours before the start of the USC-Missouri game. Then, the Scout Terra truck drove out onto the field as part of the halftime show during the game. Gov. McMaster and his wife Peggy, USC President Michael Amiridis, USC Board Chair Thad Westbrook, Scout CFO Chris Condon and Meadows stood alongside it.
The Scout Traveler and Terra will be manufactured at the company's Production Center currently under construction in Blythewood. Scout Motors is investing $2 billion into the facility which is expected to create more than 4,000 jobs and produce up to 200,000 vehicles per year at peak capacity, according to company materials.
Initial production for the Traveler and Terra is targeted to begin in 2027.