Scout Motors has 212,000 vehicle reservations as $2 billion South Carolina plant nears completion

BLYTHEWOOD, S.C. — Electric vehicle startup Scout Motors has notched roughly 212,000 reservations for its upcoming EVs as the company nears completion of its new $2 billion plant in South Carolina, CEO Scott Keogh told CNBC. The reservations are for the Volkswagen -backed company's Terra pickup truck and Traveler SUV, which are expected to start full production next year before deliveries begin to customers in 2028. Reservations do not necessarily translate to sales, as the U.S. automotive industry has learned during the past decade, especially with highly anticipated all-electric trucks such as the Ford F-150 Lightning, Tesla Cybertruck and others that garnered strong interest that didn't lead to meaningful numbers of purchases.