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Scout Motors nabs Chris Benjamin of Jeep fame to head up off-road electric SUV, pickup design team; reinforces 2026 production for electric pickup and SUV

Scout Motors revives the historic off-road Scout name with an electric twist. (Image source: Scout Motors - edited)
Scout Motors revives the historic off-road Scout name with an electric twist. (Image source: Scout Motors - edited)
Volkswagen's newly-revived rugged, off-road SUV and truck brand, Scout Motors, recently announced that it has recruited Chris Benjamin, who has been responsible for the design teams behind many modern Jeep and RAM designs over the years. This is a big move for Scout Motors, and it couldn't have come cheap, indicating VW is serious about the spin-off and its electric future.

Just a year after The Volkswagen Group created its Scout Motors spin-off to address the rugged electric SUV and pickup truck market, the brand has appointed Chris Benjamin as Chief Design Officer. Benjamin's design career has seen him work for a number of large automotive entities, including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo, and, most recently, as the head interior designer at Stellantis.

During his time at Stellantis, Benjamin was responsible for the interior design teams at Jeep, Wagoneer, Chrysler, Dodge, and RAM, indicating that he has significant experience in modern vehicles designed for rugged off-road trails. 

Benjamin also reiterates that the VW subsidiary will revive the Scout branding in more than just name, giving us an idea of what to expect as the company approaches its scheduled 2026 start of production. It's still a long way out, but we should apparently anticipate an electric SUV and pickup truck platform that blends tough, retro looks and modern technology.

My task now is to balance the iconic design language of the past with all of the innovative possibilities that electrification unlocks.

The retro aesthetic seems to be in full swing, given Volkswagen and Hyundai's recent forays into using decidedly nostalgic design elements in vehicles like the VW ID.Buzz, the stand-out Hyundai Ioniq 5, and the N Vision 74 concept car that sadly seems destined for the museum.

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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2023 05 > Scout Motors nabs Chris Benjamin of Jeep fame to head up off-road electric SUV, pickup design team; reinforces 2026 production for electric pickup and SUV
Julian van der Merwe, 2023-05-31 (Update: 2023-05-31)