What 16 Metro's Will Scout Launch?

[dleepnw]

It was announced during the reveal that Scout will launch in 16 metros. I know all of us across America have put in a deposit for a reservation but depending on where we live, we may or may not be in part of the first batch of deliveries and may have to wait. Similar thing happened with Rivian.

Does anyone know what those starting 16 metros are? It was mentioned in this article that Scout would be opening 25 Scout "Studios" or "Workshops" in 16 metros from "from New York to Miami and Seattle to San Diego", so maybe those 4 metros for sure.

If you're thinking you'll just go to the factory and pickup, you might want to think again. Rivian had a similar option but limited to folks within a certain distance of the factory (with some exceptions). They also limited deliveries overall to folks outside a certain distance to a service center. Its possible Scout will launch with a similar approach. Just trying to keep expectations real. If you live in a remote area, chances are you'll need to wait longer even if you reserved on day one.

 

[J Alynn]

It was announced during the reveal that Scout will launch in 16 metros. I know all of us across America have put in a deposit for a reservation but depending on where we live, we may or may not be in part of the first batch of deliveries and may have to wait. Similar thing happened with Rivian. Does anyone know what those starting 16 metros are? I'm sure we can all guess the top 5 but wondering what the next 11 will be and if Seattle will make the cut.

Nothing has been announced thus far. They have said factory delivery will be an option so what better way! Get yourself there, take a factory tour, take delivery then run the off road course on property then start your epic road trip home. Thats my plan and looking forward to that memory

 

[Chaz26]

I wonder if it'll just be the biggest metro areas or areas that have the most reservations. I'm in PA so I'm assuming they'll be one in Philly but if not I'm sure NY will have one. I want a factory collection anyways, and a road trip back to get used to everything.

 

[Derek]

I hope Seattle makes the list to give folks in the NW something close. We're like number 21 out of North America's largest cities, but 16 out of US, so hopefully we make it.

I would think they'd want the events spread around the country a bit, so that you get seed sales on the road in all areas of the country for folks to see.

Even if they don't come here, I'd got to SC and get one if needed, but it would be neat to have one here.

 

[SaraLiz]

Hoping for Denver...given Rivian's presence and seeming success here, I think it's a good chance.

 

[J Alynn]

I wonder if it'll just be the biggest metro areas or areas that have the most reservations. I'm in PA so I'm assuming they'll be one in Philly but if not I'm sure NY will have one. I want a factory collection anyways, and a road trip back to get used to everything.

From Lancaster Co as well and thinking same thing. Thinking Baltimore or that area as well to serve DC and Delaware areas as well as MD

 

[pwrofgrayskull]

Nothing has been announced thus far. They have said factory delivery will be an option so what better way! Get yourself there, take a factory tour, take delivery then run the off road course on property then start your epic road trip home. Thats my plan and looking forward to that memory

Sounds like one heck of a good time to me!!

 

[Scoutsie]

Boston is a desolate place that lives in New York’s 4-hours-away shadow, but you can sometimes park a car on the street here. I hope we get thrown a chewy morsel.

 

[R1TVT]

I would love to take delivery from the factory as an option, but I would also say that one of the more critical aspects for new Scout customers will be their relative proximity to the service center locations. Maybe by definition in this thread we are assuming that "launch" location = BOTH delivery + service centers. In this case, I would be comfortable being within an hour or so of one of those SC locations as a 1st model year owner of a new Scout.

By way of comparison, when Rivian launched their SC up in BOS, they intentionally located the SC in an industrial area almost adjacent to the airport. This was a smart move in terms of being centrally located to a very large customer base, but also b/c they can get parts shipments from Logan International very fast, and in one case, I even scheduled a service drop-off to coincide with a business trip, so I did a key drop and flew out of town, then returned back and got my truck.

The Rivian SC's are spartan and they are not carrying a huge parts inventory (def not warehouses) - almost all of the space is reserved for service bays. If you need service, you need to schedule it in advance (and Rivian will then match your truck to a service technician and any required parts). So if a part will take a week to acquire and a tech is not available for your specific job for say, 3 weeks (either due to specialized skill set or just due to plain old availability), your appointment might be 3 or 4 weeks out (even if they did have that part on hand).

One important consideration for Scout as a new company will be efficiency. It takes time to build out an entirely new service network, hire good techs & support staff and get up to speed on 2 brand new trucks. I think Rivian would benefit financially by injecting more efficiency into their service appointments, mainly b/c they end up paying unnecessarily to cover loaner vehicles for longer service visits by sometimes scheduling your truck to come in early (meaning, before they even have a tech ready for the job). Dropping off a truck early ends up costing them more money (and I would like to see them succeed). Scheduling efficiency for any repairs is an area of opportunity...

 

[TreeKiller]

Surely Phoenix or preferably Scottsdale will get one.

 

[ID_ENG]

Nothing has been announced thus far. They have said factory delivery will be an option so what better way! Get yourself there, take a factory tour, take delivery then run the off road course on property then start your epic road trip home. Thats my plan and looking forward to that memory

That sounds like an amazing idea.
I might have to steal it. Let me know how it pans out ha.

 

[04Ram2500Hemi]

I have a hunch that the whole state of Montana will be left out (we only have around a million people in the whole state). Getting the Scout serviced is one thing lingering in the back of my mind.

 

[KarlT]

Surely Phoenix or preferably Scottsdale will get one.

Kinda depends on whether they go after central location or higher incomes?

 

[rfk]

Thinking Baltimore or that area as well to serve DC and Delaware areas as well as MD

Scout HQ in Tysons Corner, VA and VW GoA HQ in Reston, VA. So my guess is N. VA location for DC area, hopefully near Metro station and/or possibly alongside 267 Dulles toll road.

 

[J Alynn]

Scout HQ in Tysons Corner, VA and VW GoA HQ in Reston, VA. So my guess is N. VA location for DC area, hopefully near Metro station.

Good point

 

[hozer]

Surely Phoenix or preferably Scottsdale will get one.

Probably Glendale. Anywhere in the Valley will server 'Phoenix' and its cheaper to go West than it is east.

 

[hozer]

My best guess at the first 16.

1. Seattle
2. Portland
3. San Fran
4. LA
5. San Diego
6. Boise
7. SLC
8. Phoenix
9. Denver
10. Dallas
11. Houston
12. Chicagoish
13. Somewhere PA
14. Somewhere NY
15. Baltimore/Washington area
16. Miami

Id stick Atlanta, Tampa and San Antonio here somewhere but not sure what I'd take out, I'm not that smart. This gets you exposure in 9/10 highest EV take rates (minus Hawaii), and puts like 10% of the population within an hour

 

[wheelsee]

Scout HQ in Tysons Corner, VA and VW GoA HQ in Reston, VA. So my guess is N. VA location for DC area, hopefully near Metro station.

Ew. I hope not signed a Maryland resident who hates to go to DC much less across the river.

 

[dleepnw]

That sounds like an amazing idea.
I might have to steal it. Let me know how it pans out ha.

Nothing has been announced thus far. They have said factory delivery will be an option so what better way! Get yourself there, take a factory tour, take delivery then run the off road course on property then start your epic road trip home. Thats my plan and looking forward to that memory

Many folks wanted to do that when they purchased their Rivian but it was limited availability. Would be great if Scout opened it to any new owner to do so. We'll have to wait and see.

 

[R1TVT]

Another way to look at correlation for "potential locations" would be by EV sales, SUV/Truck sales and the existing density of DCFC and other charging infrastructure that exists today. Some of this infrastructure is representative of the tail wagging the dog, or the requirement for infrastructure to follow strong EV sales.

Looking more specifically just at EV Truck sales (for example), Scout could follow the money and charger infrastructure, which will at least ensure they target top markets that are more saturated with (theoretically) some of the most likely buyers to help ensure positive lift-off. Initial sales numbers will boost confidence and propel more sales, so I'm guessing Scout's strategy team is working hard to determine priority and the best places to stake their claim to get the flywheel spinning quickly.

To piggy-back off existing data (as 1 data point for EV Truck density) you can look at where Rivian RAN chargers now exist in the wild... Where ever you see 3 lightening bolts on the map below, you now have a Rivian DCFC RAN Charger.

Here in wee-little New England, for example, we now have SIX Rivian DCFC stations that funnel into I-95 corridor, heading down the East Coast. The length of the West Coast is covered, connecting the most densely populated cities, then running into Southwest, followed by some pockets like CO, TX, and the Great Lakes region: