South Carolina's $2 Billion Factory Nears Completion, Scott Motors Secures 212,000 Vehicle Reservations

Key Points

Scott Motors CEO Scott Keough revealed to the U.S. Consumer News and Business Channel that the company's Terra pickup and Traveler SUV have garnered approximately 212,000 reservations. The production center in South Carolina, with an investment exceeding $2 billion, is nearing completion. Keough stated that about 87% of the reservations are for the extended-range models, while 75% of the orders are for the Traveler SUV.

On November 21, 2025, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the 2025 Los Angeles Auto Show featured Scott Motors' Terra pickup and Traveler SUV.

The CEO of this electric vehicle startup, Scott Keough, stated that as the company's new $2 billion factory in South Carolina approaches completion, its upcoming electric models have already received about 212,000 reservations.

These reserved models are funded by the Volkswagen Group and include the Terra pickup and Traveler SUV. Both models are expected to begin full production next year, with deliveries to customers set for 2028.

Over the past decade, the U.S. automotive industry has shown that reservation numbers do not equate to actual sales. Many highly anticipated all-electric pickups have experienced high initial interest but ultimately fell short of expected sales conversions, such as the Ford F-150 Lightning and Tesla Cybertruck. {#quote_TSLA}

Keough mentioned that by the time consumer production starts, Scott's reservation numbers might nearly double. However, he also noted that as production nears, the more critical task is converting early market interest into actual sales orders.

"Market enthusiasm continues to rise," Keough said during an interview at the factory site in Columbia, South Carolina. "We don't need to invest too much marketing effort; the reservation numbers can easily exceed 400,000. But the most important question for us is: how much of the initial production capacity can achieve 100% pre-sale delivery?"

Keough stated that it would be ideal to secure orders sufficient to support 12-18 months of production before starting operations, and he believes the company can achieve this goal. Scott Motors announced on Thursday that the construction of the factory has entered its final phase. {#quote_LI}

Scott's models will offer both pure electric versions and extended-range electric vehicles (EREV). The extended-range models will feature an engine that acts as a backup generator to power the electric motor and battery.

Scott is a classic American automotive brand that operated from 1961 to 1980. The Volkswagen Group plans to revive the brand to expand its presence in the U.S. market. However, due to the slower-than-expected adoption of electric vehicles and rising costs, Volkswagen has decided to develop both pure electric and extended-range hybrid models simultaneously.

On February 15, 2024, in Blythewood, South Carolina, Scott Motors held a groundbreaking ceremony for its new electric SUV factory, showcasing a classic fuel model from the brand.

Keough explained that the current reservations predominantly consist of extended-range and SUV models: approximately 87% of the orders are for extended-range hybrid models, while 75% are for SUVs.

Based on the market preferences reflected in the reservations, Scott plans to prioritize the launch of extended-range hybrid models before introducing the pure electric versions. The company also intends to initially release mid-range models, which differs from the common practice of many automakers prioritizing high-end models.

"For me, the primary goal is to scale up production capacity as quickly as possible," Keough said. "My thought is, how soon can we achieve an annual production of 100,000 units? Only by reaching this level can the company truly break into the market."

Previously, Rivian faced criticism online for prioritizing high-priced versions of its new R2 model, despite this being a common practice in the automotive industry. Keough's comments come months after that controversy.

Keough revealed that the overall progress of the Scott South Carolina factory is about 85%, with supporting infrastructure and a $300 million supplier park still under construction.

Scott Motors officially opened reservations for its models in October 2024, simultaneously unveiling the Terra pickup and Traveler SUV. Both new vehicles feature a rugged and sleek design that pays homage to the brand's classic models.

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