Scout Motors, the emerging US electric car brand under the umbrella of the Volkswagen Group, has announced the appointment of Jan Spies as its Chief Production Officer. In this pivotal role, Spies will spearhead the production efforts for Scout’s forthcoming electric pickup truck and SUV. His tenure is set to commence at the onset of 2024.
With production slated to take place at a state-of-the-art facility in South Carolina, the inaugural Scout electric vehicles are projected to roll off the assembly line starting late 2026. The company has initiated the process of recruiting its initial workforce to facilitate this ambitious timeline. In his capacity as Chief Production Officer, Spies will play a crucial role in ensuring the seamless commencement of production as per the proposed schedule and maintaining the desired quality standards.
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Boasting an extensive background in automotive manufacturing, Jan Spies brings over two decades of experience within the Volkswagen Group to his new role. Notably, he has held a pivotal role at the Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which has grown to yield an annual output exceeding 250,000 vehicles since its establishment in 2011. Spies has held the position of Head of Planning and Production Engineering at Volkswagen AG since 2019.
Scott Keogh, the CEO of Scout Motors, expressed his confidence in Spies’ aptitude for steering the realization of the brand’s ambitious vision. Keogh remarked, “Jan is the ideal leader to turn the ambitious vision of Scout Motors into a reality. His vast expertise and visionary approach to production management will be invaluable as we establish world-class manufacturing operations.”
Scout Motors’ production strategy centers on crafting pickup trucks and rugged SUVs, all built upon a novel electric platform. This platform, designed to cater to off-road enthusiasts, is shrouded in some mystery, with detailed specifics about the e-drive train components and the platform’s overarching concept remaining undisclosed. The exclusivity of this platform to Scout Motors is highlighted, despite previous speculations surrounding the potential production of electric vehicles from Audi at the same facility.
The Scout brand name was acquired by Volkswagen as part of its acquisition of Navistar in 2020. The Scout brand traces its roots to a former US manufacturer, International Harvester, which produced a two-door off-road vehicle between 1961 and 1980. Emphasizing its autonomy as a US-based entity with Volkswagen Group backing, Scout Motors announced Spies’ appointment in a manner resembling an external transfer.
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Alongside Jan Spies, Scout Motors has also onboarded several other key executives. Notably mentioned are Punam Patel as South Carolina Liaison, Corey Epps as HR Director, and Wendy Bashnan as Director of Security & Fire Protection. While only Corey Epps has direct automotive industry experience, having spent 23 years at BMW’s Spartanburg/Greer plant in South Carolina, Scout Motors is actively seeking professionals to fill over 20 open positions across manufacturing, supply chain, IT, and administration functions based in South Carolina.
As the brand takes this significant step forward by initiating the hiring process, Scout CEO Scott Keogh, a former North American executive for Audi and VW, hailed it as an “exciting milestone as we work towards building a dynamic team that will help us shape the future of all-electric transportation.” With Spies at the helm of production operations, Scout Motors is poised to make its mark in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle landscape.