Scout Motors, an automotive manufacturer and subsidiary of Volkswagen, has announced it will establish its U.S. headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company plans to invest $206 million in the site and create 1,200 jobs over the next five years. These positions will offer average annual wages of $172,000, which is nearly double the current average wage in Mecklenburg County.
The new headquarters will be located within Commonwealth, a mixed-use development in Charlotte’s Plaza Midwood neighborhood. Scout Motors is reviving the historic Scout vehicle brand, originally produced by International Harvester from 1961 to 1980. The company’s lineup includes electric and hybrid-powered vehicles. Vehicle production is scheduled to begin at a manufacturing plant in Blythewood, South Carolina, with initial output expected in 2027.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein commented on the announcement: “Scout Motors is revitalizing an iconic American brand, creating high-quality jobs, and building the next great automotive company right here in the Carolinas. Our business-friendly climate, our top-tier research universities and community colleges, our leadership in the clean energy economy, our quality of life, and above all, our people make companies want to call North Carolina home.”
Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Scout Motors, said: “Charlotte is the ideal home for Scout Motors – a place as dynamic as our people and brand, where heritage and pride meet progress and innovation. With a thriving talent pool, world-class universities, and a deserved reputation as a launchpad for bold ideas, Charlotte offers the momentum we need to scale quickly and sustainably. We’ll build a headquarters that reflects our culture, empowers our teams, and connects us to a region that’s fast becoming a national hub for mobility and manufacturing.”
Christopher Chung, CEO of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina (EDPNC), stated: “We’re pleased to welcome an innovative company like Scout Motors to North Carolina. Our automotive sector is thriving and rapidly expanding, and Scout Motors will only accelerate our state’s reputation as an automotive hub.”
Charlotte’s selection as Scout Motors’ headquarters highlights its status as one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States with several Fortune 500 companies based there. Over the past decade, North Carolina’s automotive sector has grown by 23%. The state awards more than 1,300 degrees annually in automotive engineering through its colleges and universities. Additionally, twenty of the world’s top 100 automotive suppliers have operations within North Carolina.
Key partners involved in bringing Scout Motors to Charlotte include state agencies such as the North Carolina Department of Commerce; educational institutions like Central Piedmont Community College; local organizations including Mecklenburg County; workforce groups such as CharlotteWorks; regional alliances; city government; and others.
The EDPNC operates as a statewide economic development organization focused on business recruitment and support across various sectors.
For more information about Scout Motors visit www.scoutmotors.com.
For more information about EDPNC visit www.edpnc.com.
