Scout Motors, a manufacturer of electric trucks under the Volkswagen Group, plans to invest $11 million to build a new research and development center in the northwest of Detroit and create 200 jobs.

　　Image source: Scout Motors

　　Scout Motors plans to establish an innovation center, which will be synchronized with the factory expected to be launched in South Carolina by the end of 2026. According to a briefing memorandum from Michigan Economic Development Corp, Scout Motors will establish a Scout Product Design and Engineering Center in Novi, Michigan. It is reported that Scout Innovation Center will become the location of its product, design, and engineering teams, as well as cross functional support teams.

　　Scott Motors CEO Scott Keogh said in a statement, "When designing and developing our vehicles, Michigan became the ideal location for the innovation center we established due to its strong automotive foundation."

　　The memo shows that the Michigan Strategic Fund Board of Directors approved a performance based grant of $10 million on December 12th to support the program. This funding will help address the upfront cost disadvantage of locating the project in Michigan. It is expected that the average weekly salary for these new positions will be $3714, with additional benefits.

　　Due to lower than expected demand for pure electric vehicles, Ford Motor will halve its F-150 Lightning production next year, while General Motors will also delay the production of electric trucks at the Olympian assembly plant.

　　However, while the electric vehicle industry is facing growth pains, Scout Motors is actively advancing its ambitious expansion plan. Scout Motors is committed to revitalizing its brand and plans to launch its first SUV and truck test vehicle in the coming months. The company plans to invest $2 billion in its factory in South Carolina and is expected to produce 200000 electric vehicles annually.

　　Keogh stated that Scout Motors currently has around 300 employees, employing 44 in Michigan, and plans to start building its assembly plant in the first quarter. According to a report from the Michigan Bureau of Economic Development, the company is optimistic about the brand vision and sustained growth of Scout electric vehicles.

　　This article is reprinted from Gaishi Automotive Information Network