Overview
- Automobilwoche reports that Audi plans a large U.S.-specific SUV using range‑extender technology, with the plan not yet formally approved.
- The model would share Scout’s body-on-frame platform and be built at Scout’s new Blythewood, South Carolina factory alongside Scout vehicles.
- Production timing would align with Scout’s schedule, which targets a start around late 2027 according to current plans.
- The range‑extender focus tracks with Scout’s order trends, as president Scott Keogh said about 80% of preorders favor that setup over pure battery-electric versions.
- The shift reflects cost and policy pressures, including higher U.S. tariffs and the loss of federal EV tax credits, with Audi’s CFO estimating a €1.3 billion hit in 2025 as the brand currently relies on imports from Europe and Mexico.