Scout Motors Refuses To Back Down On Plans To Cut Dealers Out Of The Ev Equation

Scout Motors

Dealers suck, truthful when Scout Motors announced plans for a nonstop income exemplary that trim retired existing dealers, you knew it was only a matter of clip earlier those dealers tried to make Scout alteration its mind. And wouldn't you cognize it — that's precisely what happened. In nan astir predictable move ever, dealers sounded a fit. But Scout didn't backmost down then, and from nan sound of it, nan continued trader temper tantrums haven't changed that. In fact, Scout CEO Scott Keogh utilized his caller Munich centrifugal show quality to double down connected nonstop sales, InsideEVs reports.

Scout didn't precisely request to beryllium astatine nan Munich show, since neither nan Terra nor nan Traveler will beryllium disposable successful Europe erstwhile accumulation originates (a constituent Keogh reiterated astatine nan property conference), but since Scout is portion of Volkswagen Group, it apparently saw nan show arsenic a measurement "to show our communicative to nan world press." And that communicative does not impact greedy middlemen driving up nan value of nan car you want truthful they tin bargain a fancier vessel and donate to nan worst politicians successful your state.

Addressing members of nan media, Keogh said astir really important a nonstop income exemplary is to Scout's future, saying, "If you look astatine 21st-century brands and what they're capable to deliver, that's what they do. We tin create nan stores, and we tin create nan marque experience." 

Scout Motors

Of course, arsenic InsideEVs points out, dealers person already done a batch much than kick astir Scout's nonstop income plans. A group of Volkswagen and Audi dealers sued successful Florida, pinch different suit coming from the California New Car Dealers Association. How Scout, which ne'er signed an statement pinch immoderate dealerships, could person violated nan position of a statement that doesn't beryllium isn't wholly clear. But nan lawsuits are existent and still moving their measurement done nan courts.

According to Keogh, though, he has nary plans to fto a fewer grumpy dealers alteration his mind. "I'm rather clear connected this front," he told nan media. "This is nan correct strategy. You person to do it correct for nan consumer, and America likes a business that tin compete and situation and innovate... it's a batch of noise." He later added, "If you don't ain nan narration to nan customer, what precisely do you have? You've sewage nan mill and you've sewage each nan costs. You don't person each nan optimization connected that front."

If I'm being wholly honest, I conscionable assumed Volkswagen Group (and truthful Scout) would yet cave to trader pressure, moreover aft they initially pushed back. Ultimately, we'll person to spot really nan lawsuits play out, but I'm legitimately impressed they still aren't backing down. Of course, we're besides talking astir vehicles that don't really beryllium yet, truthful they'll request to really build a fewer first and make judge nan range-extender useful properly earlier we tin get excessively excited. Still, astatine slightest for now, Scout continuing to guidelines up to dealers tin only beryllium publication arsenic a bully thing.