I've been thinking in another direction these past few days with regards to Scout being a ground up SUV manufacture....dealerships?? Scout Motors appears to be distancing themselves from VW, creating their own identity, and not planning to use VW's already established dealership infrastructure (correct @Jamie@ScoutMotors @Chris@ScoutMotors ?). On a national level recent talks of car dealerships dying off after the covid pandemic seems to be a real thing. Then there is the simple fact that who likes to deal with car salesman anyway?!?!? So, how do you deliver the Scouts to their new owners?
Depending on where other charging locations pop up between now and 2026, Scout Motors might be able to look more at filling in the "off the beaten path" locations, which would hold more true with the Scout name anyway.....maybe selecting more of a destination, than a driving through location. A cool old downtown square with a local shops and a brewery that gives the passengers something to do while charging, or a scenic overlook that helps the world slow down just a bit while charging. Maybe a few of the charging stations within the charging facility are made to be a bit more challenging to access - "Scout Owners Beyond This Point Only"
For some time now I been waiting for the first group of investors that figure out the new era of an EV convenience stores that caters to a traveler that has to take the time to recharge, but is presented with a number of different activities to help pass the time. Things like: an indoor play area for kids to burn off some built up energy, or a bon fire pit area that kids (when accompanied by a parent) can purchase a smores kit, or a Scout Store area to shop and purchase Scout apparel and Scout Motor accessories , or coffee/drinks served in an outdoor lounge type area overlooking a scenic view, or rent a picnic area with a grill and an included meal to grill so you don't have to bring the food supplies on your cross country journey, heck could even rent out rustic "glamping tents" with the overnight charger approach......if you're picking up on what I'm laying down here the possibilities are endless to help change the perception of the dreaded EV charge time. Each locations could have the standard activities that everyone would expect to see at each location as well as unique activates to that particular location, creating an urge to stop at other ones. It's taking the approach of getting away from the hustle and bustle of pulling up to the pump, race inside for drinks/snacks, and hurry back to get on the road again. Instead, realizing that if you are using rapid chargers you have been on the road for a number of hours and a break from the road isn't the worst thing for you anyway.
In the end the hope would be that an approach like this would cost less than the expense of dealership type structures in multiple cities, all while helping to fill the range anxiety void as well as create another source of income for Scout Motors. Not to mention this could be laid out to accommodate a Scout Community event meeting point as well, drawing in old and new surrounding Scout clubs.
Times are changing! Scout Motors can use this opportunity to resculpt a new norm of how buyers purchase new vehicles.....a better way! Car salesmen are the worst
- Let the buyer come to you. Some would love this (as mentioned previously - watching their Scout built then driving it home https://scoutmotors.community.forum/threads/idea-cradle-to-delivery.48/ ), but fair to say most would not due to the distance. We would still hope to see it as an option for the buyer. It would also potentially help take some upfront expense off the initial purchase price.
- Carvana style - no dealerships, delivers to buyers driveway. On a mass scale seems like a logistical worry, as well as higher initial cost due to delivery fees.
- Delivery hubs - combines the two by drastically cutting down on drop off locations and buyer drives a respectful distance to pick up their new Scout.
Depending on where other charging locations pop up between now and 2026, Scout Motors might be able to look more at filling in the "off the beaten path" locations, which would hold more true with the Scout name anyway.....maybe selecting more of a destination, than a driving through location. A cool old downtown square with a local shops and a brewery that gives the passengers something to do while charging, or a scenic overlook that helps the world slow down just a bit while charging. Maybe a few of the charging stations within the charging facility are made to be a bit more challenging to access - "Scout Owners Beyond This Point Only"
For some time now I been waiting for the first group of investors that figure out the new era of an EV convenience stores that caters to a traveler that has to take the time to recharge, but is presented with a number of different activities to help pass the time. Things like: an indoor play area for kids to burn off some built up energy, or a bon fire pit area that kids (when accompanied by a parent) can purchase a smores kit, or a Scout Store area to shop and purchase Scout apparel and Scout Motor accessories , or coffee/drinks served in an outdoor lounge type area overlooking a scenic view, or rent a picnic area with a grill and an included meal to grill so you don't have to bring the food supplies on your cross country journey, heck could even rent out rustic "glamping tents" with the overnight charger approach......if you're picking up on what I'm laying down here the possibilities are endless to help change the perception of the dreaded EV charge time. Each locations could have the standard activities that everyone would expect to see at each location as well as unique activates to that particular location, creating an urge to stop at other ones. It's taking the approach of getting away from the hustle and bustle of pulling up to the pump, race inside for drinks/snacks, and hurry back to get on the road again. Instead, realizing that if you are using rapid chargers you have been on the road for a number of hours and a break from the road isn't the worst thing for you anyway.
In the end the hope would be that an approach like this would cost less than the expense of dealership type structures in multiple cities, all while helping to fill the range anxiety void as well as create another source of income for Scout Motors. Not to mention this could be laid out to accommodate a Scout Community event meeting point as well, drawing in old and new surrounding Scout clubs.
Times are changing! Scout Motors can use this opportunity to resculpt a new norm of how buyers purchase new vehicles.....a better way! Car salesmen are the worst