VW's Scout EV brand receives $10 million to set up shop in Michigan

Volkswagen's startup brand Scout has received a $10 million grant from the state of Michigan. The investment will lay the foundation for a new "innovation center" in Novi, a suburb about 30 miles northwest of Detroit. With it, VW seeks to revive the old International Harvester SUVs as a new series of off-road-oriented electric vehicles.

According to The Detroit News, VW considered other sites for Scout's nerve center, including one at the South Carolina plant that is scheduled to start manufacturing Scouts in 2026. However, the Michigan Business Development Program was able to entice Wolfsburg with the grant, which is predicted to create 200 jobs. The site will serve as the center for the resurrected brand's design and engineering team.

The original International Harvester Scout was built from 1960 to 1980. International Harvester was primarily a farm equipment manufacturer when established under the IH name at the turn of the 20th century. A small line of light trucks eventually gave way to the Scout, among the first true SUVs, predating models like the Ford Bronco and Chevy Blazer.