SCOUT MOTORS named Official Automotive Partner OF THE HEAD OF THE CHARLES REGATTA. September 15, 2026, 13:31 GMT CAMBRIDGE, MA, UNITED STATES, September 15, 2026 / EINPresswire.com / - The Head Of The Charles (R) Regatta (HOCR), the world's largest rowing regatta, today announced Scout Motors as its Official Automotive Partner for the 2026 Regatta. The partnership will introduce one of America's most anticipated automotive brands to hundreds of thousands of athletes, spectators, and outdoor enthusiasts gathered along the Charles River this October. As part of the partnership, Scout Motors will showcase the Scout (R) Traveler(TM) SUV and Scout (R) Terra(TM) truck concepts at the Regatta, giving many New Englanders their first opportunity to see the highly anticipated concept vehicles in person ahead of customer deliveries which are expected to begin in 2028. Inspired by the legendary Scout vehicles first introduced in the 1960s, Scout Motors is revitalizing one of America's celebrated automotive brands for a new generation. Designed for makers, doers, explorers, and those who embrace adventures and the outdoors, the Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra truck combine heritage, capability, and innovation in a way that aligns naturally with the spirit of the Head Of The Charles. Each October, the Head Of The Charles welcomes 12,000 athletes and more than 370,000 spectators to Boston and Cambridge, making it one of New England's premier outdoor sporting events and an ideal setting for Scout Motors to introduce its vehicles to the region. "The Head Of The Charles brings together people who love adventure, the outdoors, and the dedication it takes to pursue those passions," said Scott Keogh, President and CEO, Scout Motors. "We're excited to introduce our Scout brand to New England at such an iconic event and give fans a chance to see our vehicles up close while cheering on world-class athletes." Throughout Regatta weekend, Scout Motors will host an interactive brand experience where visitors can see the Scout concept vehicles, connect with members of the Scout team, and discover the story behind one of America's most beloved automotive brands. "We're thrilled to welcome Scout Motors to the Head Of The Charles family," said Tori Stevens, Executive Director of the Head Of The Charles Regatta. "The Regatta has always been a place where heritage and innovation come together. Scout is bringing back one of America's most iconic automotive brands with a bold vision for the future, and there couldn't be a better place to introduce those vehicles to New England than along the banks of the Charles River during one of the region's most iconic fall traditions." Visitors can experience Scout Motors throughout Head Of The Charles weekend, October 16-18, at the Scout activation along the Charles River. ABOUT SCOUT MOTORS The Scout, originally produced by International Harvester from 1961-80, was the world's first utility vehicle capable of both off-road adventure and family duty. It was the 8-day-a-week truck. The Scout brand is now an American icon whose heritage is kept alive by a dedicated community of doers who continue to push their vehicles on the farm, in the wilderness, and on family outings. Scout Motors was formed to craft the next era of trucks and rugged SUVs rooted in the same tradition that made the original Scout vehicle an American icon. Scout Motors is revitalizing a legend and returning manufacturing to American shores. The company will begin producing initial validation vehicles at its Production Center in Blythewood, South Carolina, in 2026. That effort will continue and mature into 2027, with customer deliveries of new Scout vehicles expected to begin in 2028. ABOUT THE HEAD OF THE CHARLES (R) REGATTA Founded in 1965, the Head Of The Charles (R) Regatta has grown into the world's largest rowing regatta. The three-day event welcomes 12,000 athletes from over 25 countries and nearly every U.S. state. Each year, more than 370,000 spectators line the banks of the Charles River, generating an estimated economic impact of more than $140 million for Massachusetts. HOCR is one of the largest volunteer-driven sporting events in the world, powered by more than 2,200 dedicated volunteers. The Regatta has long been a leader in inclusion, with fully integrated para rowing events, and is one of the few major sporting events of its size to achieve gender parity across men's and women's competition. HOCR is committed to creating a welcoming environment for athletes, spectators, volunteers, and the broader community. Through its partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation and environmental organizations such as the Charles River Watershed Association, HOCR continues to demonstrate leadership in sustainability. Head Of The Charles (R) is a registered trademark of the Cambridge Boat Club, 2 Gerry's Landing Road, Cambridge, MA. Amanda Cox Head Of The Charles Regatta +1 603-969-1878 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. You just read: September 15, 2026, 13:31 GMT EIN Presswire's priority is author transparency. We do our best to weed out false and misleading content. The content above is the sole responsibility of the author who makes it available. If you have any complaints, kindly contact the author above. Amanda Cox Head Of The Charles Regatta +1 603-969-1878

Volkswagen puts body-on-frame pickup trucks and rugged SUVs on the US agenda for the first time in 42 years. Volkswagen has officially placed body-on-frame pickup trucks and rugged SUVs on its North American product agenda, marking the German automaker's most direct signal yet that it intends to compete in the segment that dominates US vehicle sales. The announcement came as part of a wider North American reset unveiled September 3. What Volkswagen announced. Volkswagen is exploring body-on-frame pickup trucks and rugged SUVs as part of a dedicated North American strategy, the latest example of how carmakers are increasingly relying on region-specific approaches to confront trade tensions and varying consumer appetites. In an official Volkswagen release, CEO Thomas Schäfer said "the brand will explore opportunities in the highly popular body-on-frame B-segment, including robust SUVs and pick-up trucks, as a potential component of Volkswagen's future product portfolio." Volkswagen declined to provide additional details on the size of its potential SUVs or trucks. If Volkswagen literally means a B-segment pickup, it would be targeting something closer in size to the Ford Maverick, which currently has the small truck market almost entirely to itself. Analysts note, however, that Volkswagen's description raises a question about size, since the "body-on-frame B-segment" label is unusual: B-segment typically refers to subcompact vehicles, and body-on-frame SUVs and pickups are not part of that category in the North American market. Context: 42 years out of the US truck market. Volkswagen last sold a pickup in the US in 1984, but the brand now says it is formally studying one again as part of a wider North American reset unveiled September 3. The original Volkswagen Pickup ran from 1979 to 1984 on the first-generation Rabbit's unibody platform from the Westmoreland, Pennsylvania plant, far from the ladder-frame layout American truck buyers expect. The Amarok, which is sold in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South America, and Africa, has never set wheels in the US, even though it shares the platform with the Ford Ranger. That gap in Volkswagen's American lineup has persisted even as pickups and body-on-frame SUVs consistently account for the country's best-selling vehicle nameplates year after year. The automaker currently holds roughly 3 percent of the US market, according to Motor Intelligence. The German carmaker is in the middle of a massive global overhaul, targeting a leaner lineup and production footprint to better compete with Chinese rivals. Scout Motors and the platform question. Scout Motors is developing the Traveler SUV and Terra pickup on a body-on-frame platform. Initial production is targeted for 2027, with customers expected to begin taking delivery of new Scout vehicles in 2028. That is where Scout Motors, the revived American off-road brand Volkswagen is funding, comes into the picture, though the companies have not tied the projects together publicly. For Volkswagen-branded trucks, this matters because any modern truck would need suitable Volkswagen Group hardware. The Scout platform represents the most developed option within the group, but whether a Volkswagen-badged model would ride on it remains unconfirmed. VW will also look to expand hybrid offerings for US customers, with the company stating it will "focus on those segments that show the strongest market demand and best meet the needs of customers and dealers in the region." The Volkswagen Group announced it has appointed Marco Schubert as a member of the Extended Executive Committee for the North American Region, effective October 1, 2026, giving him responsibility for the overall management of the North American region. What it means for the US truck market. The US pickup truck and body-on-frame SUV segment remains the most profitable in the global auto industry. Full-size trucks from Ford, General Motors, and Ram collectively account for the three best-selling vehicles in the country. Volkswagen's move, even if still exploratory, signals that the segment's pull is now strong enough to draw in brands that have historically stayed away. The VW announcement also arrives as rival automakers accelerate their own truck and SUV offensives, including electrified variants targeting buyers who want capability without a conventional powertrain. Meanwhile, the growing role of advanced electronics in new trucks has made software a central competition axis, with decade-long driver-assist partnerships now shaping which platforms automakers choose to build on. No production timeline, confirmed architecture, or pricing has been released for a Volkswagen-badged truck. Volkswagen floats body-on-frame SUVs and pickups for North America with no confirmed platform, specs, or timing beyond a broad restructuring push, leaving the door open without committing to a launch date. Hugo Rojas is the editor of GCN. With a Master of Science in Engineering, he specializes in technology, data, and science, and brings a human-centered perspective informed by psychology.

Scout unveils Traveler SUV concepts ahead of production launch. Scout Motors has revealed two distinct concept versions of its upcoming Traveler SUV, highlighting both luxury and rugged off-road capability. With production set to begin next year and customer deliveries expected in 2028, the Traveler aims to compete in the growing electric SUV segment. Scout Traveler concepts make public debut. Scout Motors introduced two new concepts of its debut electric SUV, the Traveler, at the Jazz Aspen Snowmass Labor Day Experience festival. The two concepts, named Mountainside and trail-ready, are designed to showcase the dual nature of the vehicle - balancing refinement with off-road prowess. The Mountainside concept features a sophisticated Morning Dusk paint, described as a deep charcoal-brown with gold metallic flakes, and rides on 22-inch dish wheels. Its interior combines light brown leather, gray fabric, and recycled walnut wood trim, creating a cabin that blends luxury with a cozy, snow-cabin feel. Trail-Ready Concept emphasizes off-road capability. The trail-ready Traveler concept is finished in Galvanized Steel paint with a contrasting Canvas roof. It is equipped for serious off-roading, featuring full-metal front and rear bumpers, an elevated roof rack with trail lights, an integrated front winch, and 18-inch black beadlock wheels wrapped in 35-inch off-road tires. Inside, the Denim District design is paired with brick-red leather, giving the cabin a bold and adventurous look. These features highlight the Traveler's potential as a capable off-road electric SUV. Production timeline and Range-Extended Harvester trim. Scout Motors has announced that initial production of the Traveler will begin next year, with customer deliveries scheduled for 2028. Due to strong demand, the company will first launch the range-extended Harvester trim. This version pairs a four-cylinder generator with a 63-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery pack, targeting a range of 500 miles (~805 km) on a single charge. Competitor comparison. The Scout Traveler will enter a competitive segment alongside established electric SUVs. The Rivian R1S, priced from $75,900 (~AUD 106,196), offers 533 hp and 610 lb-ft of torque, with a reputation for ruggedness and full-size capability. The Volvo EX90 targets the premium electric SUV market, while the Tesla Model X is known for its high performance and family-friendly features. Scout aims to position the Traveler as a strong alternative with a starting price under $60,000 (~AUD 83,950) when it launches in 2028. Why this matters. Scout's return to the SUV market with the Traveler concepts signals a renewed focus on blending luxury and off-road capability in the electric era. The decision to lead with a range-extended model reflects consumer demand for long-range options, especially in North America. With a targeted starting price under $60,000 (~AUD 83,950), the Traveler could broaden access to large electric SUVs and intensify competition in a segment currently dominated by higher-priced models. What this means for buyers. Prospective buyers interested in a versatile electric SUV with both luxury and off-road features should keep an eye on the Scout Traveler as production nears. Those seeking long-range capability may find the range-extended Harvester trim particularly appealing. With customer deliveries not expected until 2028, buyers have time to compare the Traveler against rivals like the Rivian R1S, Volvo EX90, and Tesla Model X, and to watch for further details on available trims and features. Key specs. * Initial Production Start: 2027 * Customer Deliveries: 2028 * Range-Extended Harvester Battery: 63 kWh lithium iron phosphate * Targeted Range (Harvester): 500 miles (~805 km) * Mountainside Concept Wheels: 22-inch dish wheels * Trail-Ready Concept Wheels: 18-inch black beadlock with 35-inch off-road tires Sharing is caring. Sam Evans. Independent EV news commentator and founder of The Electric Viking. Covering the electric vehicle revolution for a global audience of 350K+ on YouTube. Viking merchandise. T-shirts, mugs, hoodies, bags Discover more Compare Car Insurance Automotive Industry Reports Electricity Generation Methods Never miss an update!!! Want expert advice on electric vehicles, battery tech, solar energy, or the future of emerging technologies? You can now book a 1-on-1 consultation with Sam Evans - The Electric Viking. Discover more electrified Automotive Market Analysis Solar Energy Products