New VW Scout plant to be built in South Carolina

Project expected to be completed in 2026, according to sources

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — According to multiple sources, Volkswagen will be building a new manufacturing plant centered around its new electric Scout model trucks and SUVs.

But it will not be built in Chattanooga.

According to Reuters, Volkswagen’s new Scout manufacturing plant will cost $2 billion to build and will create at least 4,000 permanent jobs in Columbia, South Carolina.

The news source had previously reported that while Chattanooga’s Volkswagen plant expanded to build ID vehicles, it “does not have enough space” to also build Scouts.

In May 2022, News 12 first reported the announcement from The Volkswagen Group confirming the re-launch of the Scout, with Reuters further reporting that all of the vehicles will be electric.

While there was discussion last spring that the new plant could be built in Chattanooga, those speculations have officially been put to rest.

Most recently in the Scenic City, Volkswagen opened its new 32,000-square-ft. EV battery engineering lab right next to its assembly plant last June.

“As Volkswagen is embracing a new future that is going to actually contribute to the acceleration of the adoption of EVs in North America, so Chattanooga is becoming our EV hub for the region,” said now-former Volkswagen of America COO Johan de Nysschen on June 8, 2022.

But EV growth in Chattanooga could be far from done, as the community awaits a decision for potential further expansion in the form of another production facility from either VW or potentially Audi.

News 12 reached out to both Chattanooga City and Hamilton County mayoral offices, as well as Volkswagen, itself, for further comment but received none.