The re-emergence of Scout Motors within the electrical period simply turned considerably extra fascinating. On Tuesday, Scout revealed it employed Chris Benjamin, a key Stellantis designer who crafted the inside fashion of a few of the newest Jeep and Ram fashions, to guide the design of its rugged, all-purpose electrical truck and SUV.

Scout Motors hires key Jeep, Ram designer to guide EV rollout

Benjamin will be a part of the model as Chief Design Officer, or “the steward of the long-lasting Scout design,” in accordance with the corporate.

He’ll oversee the inside and exterior design, idea improvement, consumer expertise, and the mixing of design and tech into the Scout Motors model.

“For almost 25 years, he’s dropped at life automobiles that stand out on the street,” mentioned Scout Motors CEO Scott Keogh. Benjamin started his profession as a designer with Mercedes-Benz in 1999, transferring to BMW, Volvo, and finally Stellantis.

Most just lately, Benjamin was director of inside design for Jeep, Wagoneer, Chrysler, RAM, and Dodge earlier than turning into vice chairman of inside design at Stellantis in July 2022.

Keogh added throughout the press launch:

His thumbprints are throughout lots of the most beloved off-road automobiles out there at this time.  I’m assured that Chris will construct on that have as he defines the subsequent chapter of design for Scout and electrical utility automobiles.

Benjamin says he has “been lucky in my profession to form many off-road targeted merchandise that enchantment to a broad vary of Individuals,” including:

Basic Scout automobiles have all the time exerted a magnetic pull on me. They created the archetype for the fashionable SUV within the ‘60s and proved {that a} each day driver is also a weekend adventurer.

With its new designer, who performed a essential position at Jeep and RAM, Scout Motors plans to speed up the event of its electrical truck and SUV.

The brand new electrical rugged pickup and SUV model within the US

The Scout Model traces again to its origins within the early Sixties when the Worldwide Harvester Company (IHC) launched its first mannequin.

Scout’s compact four-wheel drive car rapidly turned the primary actual competitor to the famed Jeep model. Earlier than the Ford Bronco and Chevy Blazer had been launched, Scout is credited with creating the SUV of the 60’s that’s morphed into what we see on the roads at this time.

Regardless of the model’s success, its father or mother firm struggled financially, resulting in a enterprise overhaul, together with altering its identify to Navistar.

Volkswagen acquired rights to the Scout model in 2021 after its trucking division (Traton Group) merged with Navistar.

After rumors swirled that VW was seeking to resurrect the model, the German automaker confirmed it could convert Scout into an off-road EV firm within the US with a brand new rugged electrical pickup and SUV.

Benjamin mentioned after being appointed chief designer at Scout:

My activity now’s to stability the long-lasting design language of the previous with all the revolutionary potentialities that electrification unlocks. With the bottom of inspiration that Scout gives, what we’re dreaming up can be past particular.

Scout revealed earlier this yr it could construct its first manufacturing plant in South Carolina with over 200,000 annual car manufacturing capabilities at full capability.

The primary electrical automobiles from Scout are scheduled for manufacturing by the top of 2026.

Electrek’s Take

With Scout Motors concentrating on a few of Stellantis’s largest sellers within the US in Jeep and RAMs off-road fashions, Benjamin can play a vital position in guiding the manufacturing ramp.

After a number of years of serving to develop off-road automobiles within the US, Benjamin is aware of what these shoppers need in a car. The resurrection of Scout can be an thrilling story to observe play out because it takes on a few of Ford, Jeep, RAM, Chevy, and GMC’s top-selling fashions within the US.