Scout Motors has officially chosen Charlotte, North Carolina for its new corporate headquarters—marking a significant strategic step for the revived American automotive brand as it continues developing its major electric vehicle production footprint in Blythewood, South Carolina.
The company’s announcement on November 12 followed months of competitive site evaluations across multiple states. Ultimately, Charlotte's business climate, workforce pipeline, and rapidly growing mobility ecosystem made it the standout choice.
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The headquarters represents a $206 million investment and is projected to create more than 1,200 high-quality jobs, reinforcing Charlotte’s rise as a national hub for manufacturing, innovation, and automotive leadership.
Scout Motors said its headquarters decision was based on a "comprehensive, multi-state evaluation process" aimed at finding the optimal long-term home for its executive and corporate operations. The company said Charlotte excelled due to its "combination of workforce strength, business climate, liveability, strategic location and alignment with the Scout brand’s adventurous spirit."
CEO Scott Keogh highlighted the cultural and economic synergy between Charlotte and the brand:
“Charlotte is the ideal home for Scout Motors — a place as dynamic as our people and brand, where heritage and pride meet progress and innovation. With a thriving talent pool, world-class universities and a deserved reputation as a launchpad for bold ideas, Charlotte offers the momentum we need to scale quickly and sustainably. We’ll build a headquarters that reflects our culture, empowers our teams and connects us to a region that’s fast becoming a national hub for mobility and manufacturing.”
The headquarters will be located in the Commonwealth development in Plaza Midwood, serving as the base for leadership, R&D, finance, sales, IT, marketing, and other major corporate functions. Staffing and build-out will begin in 2026.
Scout Motors traces its lineage back to the iconic International Harvester Scout, produced from 1961 through 1980. Revived in 2022 under the backing of the Volkswagen Group, Scout Motors aims to reintroduce rugged, American-built vehicles with modern EV technology.
The company’s debut EVs—the Traveler and Terra—are scheduled for production in 2027.
Vehicles are being designed in Novi, Michigan, with manufacturing centered at the massive new Blythewood, South Carolina production complex.
While the corporate headquarters heads to Charlotte, the backbone of Scout’s manufacturing strategy remains in Blythewood, where construction of its production center and new supplier base is advancing rapidly.
The campus — which broke ground in February 2024 — is expected to produce up to 200,000 vehicles per year at full capacity.
During the groundbreaking, Keogh emphasized the project’s importance to domestic manufacturing:
"We’re here to celebrate the revitalisation of an American icon and the reshoring of American jobs. On this land – with our hands and with our technology – we will build great vehicles.”
In September, Scout Motors announced a further $300 million investment for a new supplier park adjacent to the Blythewood plant. This facility—spanning nearly 200 acres with more than 2.3 million sq. ft. of specialized industrial space—will include:
The supplier park will support "seamless delivery of parts, batteries and accessories to Scout Motors’ main assembly operations," the company said.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster praised the economic momentum:
"When Scout Motors announced they were coming to South Carolina, we knew it would set off a chain reaction of investment and job creation across our state. This announcement further highlights Scout Motors’ commitment to our continued prosperity and the seemingly limitless economic opportunities they're creating for our people."
With more than $2 billion already invested in South Carolina, and another 1,000 supplier jobs expected, Scout Motors’ presence is rapidly reshaping the Midlands region’s manufacturing landscape.
North Carolina Governor Josh Stein celebrated the HQ announcement, emphasizing the broader significance for the Carolinas:
"Scout Motors is revitalising an iconic American brand, creating high-quality jobs,and building the next great automotive company right here in the Carolinas. Our business-friendly climate, our top-tier research universities and community colleges, our leadership in the clean energy economy, our quality of life, and above all, our people make companies want to call North Carolina home.”
Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles said the project will help accelerate revitalization in Plaza Midwood and strengthen the city’s reputation as a global business leader:
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"Charlotte is well known as the home of strong global brands, and we’re thrilled to welcome Scout Motors to that list. This project is a major job creation milestone for the city and will serve as a catalyst for continued revitalization in a part of our city that’s seeing new life through infrastructure and development. We can’t wait to see the impact this innovative company’s investment will bring to our city."
At the Automotive Logistics & Supply Chain Digital Strategies North America 2025 conference, Vianney Ramirez, senior procurement and supply chain specialist, emphasized the importance of transparency in the company's supplier relationships:
"Having the best communication you can internally so everybody is aware of what we are developing, what we need, what is the problem, and sharing that with suppliers, is very important."
Her remarks reflect Scout Motors’ broader operational approach—cross-functional collaboration, robust supplier partnerships, and a manufacturing model designed for scale and speed.
By establishing its corporate headquarters in Charlotte and completing one of the largest EV production investments in South Carolina, Scout Motors is positioning the Carolinas as a unified manufacturing and mobility corridor.
With construction underway, production targeted for 2027, and thousands of jobs on the horizon, Scout Motors is shaping one of the most significant automotive expansions in the Southeast.
Originally reported by James McLoughlin Assistant Editor in Automotive Logistics.
