Scout's Trucks Will Have Buttons: 'Mechanical Switches Give You a Connection'

Scout's CEO called modern vehicles 'dystopian disconnection machines.' And he wants to fix that.

Scout Traveler Electric SUV

Photo by: Scout Motors

Anthony Alaniz

By: Anthony Alaniz

Oct 30, 2025 at 10:47am ET

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Scout Motors is doing all it can to position itself as the antithesis of modern cars. Its concepts have big screens and cutting-edge technology, but the brand is intentional with how you interact with all those features. The Terra and Traveler are packed with physical controls, which Scout CEO Scott Keogh said in a recent interview, "plays back to our heritage."

Keogh told Bloomberg that Scout is trying to build a "connection machine," calling modern vehicles "dystopian disconnection machines," which force people to use soulless screens. He said:

“Everything’s eight layers down, everything's on a computer screen, everyone in the car needs their own computer screen, and we think the exact opposite. We think mechanical switches give you a connection, we think less screens are better, we think bench seats are cool, we think tailgates are cool. We want to build this real, authentic connection.”

When Scout unveiled the Terra and Traveler over a year ago, Keogh touted their mechanical door handles, the plethora of physical switches, and the bench seat. It embodies the brand’s heritage both inside and out, blending modern technology with classic styling.

Photo by: Scout Motors

According to Keogh in the interview, the automaker has received over 130,000 reservations for the two models, with over 80 percent for the extended-range powertrain. It’s looking likelier that Scout will delay the launch of the battery-electric version, with demand for EVs not growing as fast as expected.

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Scout will source a four-cylinder engine from Volkswagen Group’s Silao, Mexico, plant, and it’ll sit behind the rear axle, giving the two models 500 miles of range. The combination of an extended-range powertrain with tactical controls might be just what consumers have been looking for.

Or maybe they just want a bench seat again. The SUV and truck aren’t expected to enter production until sometime in 2027, and they are supposed to start for under $60,000, but it’s unclear if that’s the price for the electric or extended-range versions.

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