Dealership groups throughout the United States are demanding answers from VW and how it intends on selling vehicles under the revived Scout brand.
Earlier this month, VW Group chief executive Herbert Diess confirmed that the iconic Scout name would return as a separate, independent brand within the group. No mention was made as to how VW intends to sell and distribute these Scout models throughout the U.S., immediately triggering concerns among dealerships that the automaker may push for a direct-sales model.
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National Automobile Dealers Association chief executive Mike Stantos recently sent a letter to VW Group of America chief executive, Scott Keogh, urging the automaker to announce its distribution plans for the Scout brand.
“We have been closely following the recent announcement from Volkswagen that the Scout brand will be returning to the U.S. market in the coming years,” the letter reads. “While these are early days, we encourage you to quickly and clearly communicate Scout’s distribution plan to your dealers who have made significant investments to support VW’s business model and transformation to electrification.”
Speaking with Auto News, a number of individual VW dealers, association executives, and state dealer associations revealed they are also writing to Keogh looking for answers.
One letter from the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association president Robert Glaser says that “the clear expectation would be that current VW dealers would be given the first opportunity to enlist as a Scout dealer.”
“Despite repeated assurances throughout the years by Volkswagen that its dealers are ‘partners’ in advancing and promoting VW products, this announcement produced instant dismay and concern among all VW dealers,” Glaser added.
Despite the letters, VW Group of America is remaining mum on the issue, and speaking with Auto News, simply said that it will share more news about the Scout brand “as it becomes available.”
