North Carolina Scouts

[Sisko99]

I didn't see a thread for the NC people so I thought I'd put one out there! We're basically right next door to the factory, so we should definitely represent. So let's hear from you! What've you got/reserved and where are you?

Reserved Terra Harvester - Triad Area

 

[speedrye]

Traveler Harvester, also Triad area. I also just sent my NC representatives an email about the proposed SC legislation to allow direct-to-consumer sales for companies with no existing dealership presence. Might be worth it for more potential buyers to do the same.

 

[Sisko99]

Hey! Another Triad person!

As far as the legislation.....I wonder if sure it's needed. Tesla, Rivian and Lucid already sell direct to consumer in NC and they started off the same as Scout. I'm all for protecting it....but I'm not sure something it needed to specifically allow it.

 

[Sisko99]

So I did a little digging....and....back in 2019, the NC General Assembly passed a bill to revise the Motor Vehicle Dealer Laws in the state. According to the summary I read, they specifically allowed EV companies to sell direct to consumers with up to 6 company owned sales locations in the state until they do any of the following things:
 Ceases to manufacture only vehicles that are solely electric.
 Enters into a franchise agreement with a dealer in this State.
 Acquires a substantial affiliation with a manufacturer that has a franchised dealer in this State.
 Sells any new motor vehicle bearing the logo of another manufacturer that has a franchised dealer in this State.

What concerns me here is this:
1) Do the Harvester Models count as a vehicle that is not solely electric? We know the engine is only a generator....but does that matter by the letter of the law?
2) What does the "substantial affiliation" requirement actually mean? The Internet says that VW Group owns 100% of Scout.....but that the company is independent and has it's own executives? But does that clear the hurdle?

@codythacker Since you responded to the other thread....I'm curious if you can shed any light can be shed on the NC situation? Perhaps you can't and that's ok.

 

[nolen]

Mebane here! Reserved a Traveler Harvester but might switch to just EV - have to get more details

 

[speedrye]

So I did a little digging....and....back in 2019, the NC General Assembly passed a bill to revise the Motor Vehicle Dealer Laws in the state. According to the summary I read, they specifically allowed EV companies to sell direct to consumers with up to 6 company owned sales locations in the state until they do any of the following things:
 Ceases to manufacture only vehicles that are solely electric.
 Enters into a franchise agreement with a dealer in this State.
 Acquires a substantial affiliation with a manufacturer that has a franchised dealer in this State.
 Sells any new motor vehicle bearing the logo of another manufacturer that has a franchised dealer in this State.

What concerns me here is this:
1) Do the Harvester Models count as a vehicle that is not solely electric? We know the engine is only a generator....but does that matter by the letter of the law?
2) What does the "substantial affiliation" requirement actually mean? The Internet says that VW Group owns 100% of Scout.....but that the company is independent and has it's own executives? But does that clear the hurdle?

@codythacker Since you responded to the other thread....I'm curious if you can shed any light can be shed on the NC situation? Perhaps you can't and that's ok.

Excellent questions, any chance you have the bill number? I'm curious if Scout will even qualify as an EV company to start with and how the Harvester option changes the equation. The specific wording will matter a ton.

I'm still concerned with service centers. Rivian is supposed to get some at some point, but I think the closest ones are in Richmond and Atlanta currently. Hopefully Scout has a better plan than Rivian for servicing vehicles. My benchmark for service is my local Chevy dealership which is actually really good and will pick me up and drop me off as needed, so minimal inconvenience.

 

[bobz]

Hillsborough, NC here. Traveler Harvester ordered. Also own 91 FJ80 Land Cruiser ;-)
Thanks for creating this thread.

 

[Sisko99]

Excellent questions, any chance you have the bill number? I'm curious if Scout will even qualify as an EV company to start with and how the Harvester option changes the equation. The specific wording will matter a ton.

I'm still concerned with service centers. Rivian is supposed to get some at some point, but I think the closest ones are in Richmond and Atlanta currently. Hopefully Scout has a better plan than Rivian for servicing vehicles. My benchmark for service is my local Chevy dealership which is actually really good and will pick me up and drop me off as needed, so minimal inconvenience.

Here's a link to it: https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookup/2019/S384.

I know SM has plans for 16 service centers to be open when they begin delivering in 2027 with more to come. I think the goal was like 100 centers by 2030 or something. I'm a little concerned about what service would be like at first since we don't know where those first 16 will be. That being said....the factory itself is about 2.5hrs from the Triad, so it's not awful. When I had my Model 3, I had to go to Raleigh or Charlotte and that required basically a day to go down, get stuff done and come back (for me that's about 1.5 hrs each way, regardless).....so I don't think this would be overly different. Not exactly ideal though. Of course, hopefully the Scouts are as reliable as my Tesla was. I only had a warranty item on my M3P......never an actual service issue.

Or maybe they'll do the Mobile Service like Tesla does/did. Who knows?

 

[Sisko99]

Hillsborough, NC here. Traveler Harvester ordered. Also own 91 FJ80 Land Cruiser ;-)
Thanks for creating this thread.

Thanks for posting in it!

 

[OIBScout]

Traveler Harvester OIB / Charlotte.

 

[Sisko99]

Good to see we’ve got a fair number of people here. We’ll have to consider getting together to do some stuff as time moves on and we get closer to launch.

Looks like I’m the only Terra so far….but everyone’s going for the Harvester.

 

[Der3k!7]

Wake Forest here (where WFU used to be) reserved a Traveler. Have a ‘22 Bronco currently.

 

[ScoutMadeInSC]

Charlotte Here. Just up 77 from the plant! Reserved Traveler Harvester but depends on more info I switch to just the BEV.

 

[grisc970]

Charlotte area also...reserved the Traveler Harvester too. I originally reserved a Rivian and got tired of waiting and prices going up. Bought a Macan and have loved it but really wanted to try an EV next. I almost bought an International Harvester pickup project years ago but went with a Datsun 620 instead. Love that this older brand is being revitalized as an EV. Can't wait to read and see more about Scout in the coming months!

 

[J Alynn]

Charlotte area also...reserved the Traveler Harvester too. I originally reserved a Rivian and got tired of waiting and prices going up. Bought a Macan and have loved it but really wanted to try an EV next. I almost bought an International Harvester pickup project years ago but went with a Datsun 620 instead. Love that this older brand is being revitalized as an EV. Can't wait to read and see more about Scout in the coming months!

Welcome to the forum! Enjoy the crazy and check out the tons of info on here. The search button will be your friend and best way to find info that interests you. When you can’t find something, speak up and the group here will likely have the answer or direct you to what you are interested in.
Enjoy!

 

[Sisko99]

Charlotte area also...reserved the Traveler Harvester too. I originally reserved a Rivian and got tired of waiting and prices going up. Bought a Macan and have loved it but really wanted to try an EV next. I almost bought an International Harvester pickup project years ago but went with a Datsun 620 instead. Love that this older brand is being revitalized as an EV. Can't wait to read and see more about Scout in the coming months!

Let's see a photo of the 620!

 

[michael madcat]

Woot! To quote Petey Pablo, "Come on and raise up!"

I'm from Pittsboro. Still not registered, though I plan on picking up a Traveler (preferably the Harvester)... I'm building a house right now and can barely convince my wife to eat a meal out, so putting down $100 on a car that I can't afford is just not in the cards, haha. But hey, I got a couple years to pull it together.

Regardless, when the Scouts come out, I'd love to join an NC-specific club and hit the trails with some of ya!

 

[jfadams304]

In Chapel Hill at the moment, but storing my Scout II in SE VA with hopes of getting it down. Haven't reserved the new one yet because I'm close to paying off my current daily. Excited nonetheless and probably will