Scout to build development centre in Michigan
Around 200 new jobs are to be created there in the areas of technology, design and development, according to Scout. The Scout Innovation Centre will also house “members of cross-functional support teams”. Novi is located in the Detroit metropolitan area, northwest of the US motor metropolis.
“Our new vehicles will honor Scout’s hard-working heritage while injecting fresh American ingenuity to create a new era of iconic all-purpose vehicles,” says Scott Keogh, President and CEO of Scout Motors. “As we design and engineer our vehicles, Michigan is the perfect place to establish our Innovation Center due to its deep automotive roots, continued investment in innovation and ability to attract and train a talented, diverse workforce.”
Scout also emphasises Michigan’s “leading position” in the development and production of electric vehicles and that the state has recently attracted over 14 billion dollars in investment in electric vehicles and batteries. However, subsidies are also likely to have played a certain role in the location decision: The Scout Innovation Centre is supported by a “performance-based grant” from the Michigan Business Development Program.
Scout’s first two models, an electric SUV and an electric pickup truck, are reportedly being developed by Magna, based on a new electric platform and should be ready for series production by the end of 2026. Keogh recently told US media that the design of the first two products was “85, 90, 95 per cent complete”.
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