Gov. Josh Stein drove up to the Commonwealth development in Plaza Midwood on Wednesday in a green 1977 International Scout — a model that went out of production in the 1980s. But Stein is looking forward to Charlotte and the state playing a major role in bringing the off-road vehicle back to life.
Scout Motors, an American subsidiary of Germany-based Volkswagen, is making Charlotte its new corporate headquarters with a $207 million investment and a promise to create over 1,200 high-paying jobs, company and N.C. officials said Wednesday.
The new headquarters is going in the Commonwealth development in Plaza Midwood in two phases. The jobs will be created over a five-year period from 2026 to 2030, according to officials at the Economic Investment Committee meeting.
They said $172,878 is the expected minimum average wage, and Scout Motors anticipates investing $207 million by the end of 2029. The state is awarding Scout Motors a job development investment grant worth up to $46.5 million if it reaches its hiring and investment targets.
This is one of the biggest job creation announcements in Charlotte over the past decade, local officials said. And the average minimum wage for Scout Motors is nearly double the $86,830 average wage for Mecklenburg County.
Charlotte beat out sites in South Carolina and Virginia for the Scout Motors headquarters, the company told N.C. officials. Scout Motors’ headquarters is in Tysons, Virginia, near Washington, D.C.
A rendering of Scout Motors headquarters at the Commonwealth development in Plaza Midwood. Scout Motors
Scout Motors already has a robust presence in the Carolinas. In 2023, the company announced it was investing $2 billion in an electric vehicle manufacturing plant in Richland County near Columbia, along with 4,000 jobs. The company also received $1.3 billion in incentives from the state.
Production is targeted to begin at the S.C. site in 2027.
“Scout Motors has undertaken a nationwide search to identify a location for its new corporate headquarters from which it will lead and drive its company, brand and products,” Mark Poole of the NC Commerce Department, said at the meeting.
In Plaza Midwood, Stein and state Commerce Secretary Lee Lilley were joined by city and Mecklenburg County officials who are also involved in the deal, along with the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance.
Scout Motors President Scott Keogh addresses the audience gathered at 1710 Commonwealth Ave. with news that the company is making Charlotte its new corporate headquarters on Tuesday. He is flanked by Gov. Josh Stein and Mayor Vi Lyles. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
The Charlotte headquarters will serve as the home for executives, research and development, finance, IT, sales, marketing and other key corporate functions.
“We’re excited that you’re revitalizing an iconic American brand and building the next generation vehicle company right here in the Carolinas,” Stein said.
Over the next 12 years, the project will add nearly $5 billion to the state’s economy, Stein added.
“The way I see it, North Carolina was always the prefect choice for Scout’s new headquarters,” he said while boasting about the state’s universities, clean energy economy, quality of life and workforce.
The mixed-use Commonwealth building development in Plaza Midwood that will home to Scout Motors. Desiree Mathurin dmathurin@charlotteobserver.com
Why Scout Motors chose Charlotte for HQ
Scout Motors President Scott Keogh talked about the reasons the company landed on Charlotte.
He cited the talent pool, local universities and a reputation as a launchpad for bold ideas.
“Charlotte offers the momentum we need to scale quickly and sustainably,” Keogh said. “We’ll build a headquarters that reflects our culture, empowers our team and connects us to a region that’s fast becoming a national hub for mobility and manufacturing.”
Scout Motors will establish its Charlotte presence gradually. Its plans for initial staffing and office development will start next year, with full headquarters operations scaling up over several years.
During the event Wednesday, Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles spoke about how North Carolina is a top- ranked state for business and how the city reflects that success with its growth.
”This decision brings new energy to Plaza Midwood,” Lyles said. It brings jobs, it brings growth, it brings optimism to what’s next.”
Gov. Josh Stein, left, listens as Scout Motors President Scott Keogh details the reasons the company is making Charlotte its new corporate headquarters. JEFF SINER jsiner@charlotteobserver.com
Scout Motors in South Carolina
In February 2024, Scout Motors broke ground on a production center in Blythewood, South Carolina, off Interstate 77 and just outside of Columbia. It covers about 1,600 acres, with the main plant taking up 1,100 acres, according to a Scout Motors news release.
This location gives Scout Motors easy access to highways, shipping ports in Charleston and Savannah, and colleges known for automotive engineering.
Scout plans to start making vehicles by the end of 2026, with trucks and SUVs expected to go on sale shortly after production begins. Over 14,000 people already have expressed interest for the 4,000 jobs, the Columbia State reported.
Beasley Creek is partially hidden by trees near the future home of the Scout Motor factory just outside of Columbia, as seen on Oct. 9, 2025. Joshua Boucher jboucher@thestate.com
Plans are also underway to build a Supplier Park on the site of its Blythewood production center. Located next to the main production center buildings, the Supplier Park spans nearly 200 acres and will feature more than 2.3 million square feet of specialized manufacturing and logistics space.
About Scout Motors and its history
The Scout was first made by International Harvester from 1961 to 1980. It was the world’s first vehicle designed for both off-road and family use, earning a reputation as a tough, all-purpose truck.
In 2022, Volkswagen introduced Scout Motors, a new company founded to bring back the iconic Scout brand by building a fresh line of all-electric trucks and SUVs.
Scout currently operates 1.3 million square feet of assembly space and body shops, according to its website. The company has more than 4,000 workers for production jobs.
Scout Motors is moving its corporate headquarters to Charlotte. Seen here are two production-intent concept vehicles in 2024, the Scout Traveler SUV and the Scout Terra truck. Andrew Trahan Photography LLC
A few years ago, Keogh said the company was just two employees with an idea.
“The idea obviously is not just to bring back a relic, but bring back a revolution and bring back getting America back to manufacturing things, dreaming things and doing things again,” Keogh said. “And that’s exactly what we’re up to.”
The Scout that Stein borrowed for the event is owned by Ainsley Lederfind of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. Her parents, Howard and Stacie Lederfind of Ellenboro, came to Charlotte for the celebration.
“My daughter was ecstatic,” Howard said about the governor behind the wheel, with Keogh and Lilley as passengers. “It drives great to be an almost 50-year-old vehicle. It’s a daily driver for her.
Lederfind owned the truck for four years and had it partially restored. He’s looking forward to seeing newer models on the road.
“I think it’s pretty neat that it’s going to provide jobs for North Carolina and with the factory being in Blythewood, South Carolina, I know they’re excited about it as well,” Howard said.
Scout Motors is making Charlotte its new corporate headquarters with a $207 million investment and a promise to create over 1,200 high-paying jobs. Seen here is its Columbia Connection Center in South Carolina. Katie Wilson Scout Motors
This story was originally published November 12, 2025 at 1:54 PM.
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Chase Jordan
The Charlotte Observer
Chase Jordan is a business reporter for The Charlotte Observer, and has nearly a decade of experience covering news in North Carolina. Prior to joining the Observer, he was a growth and development reporter for the Wilmington StarNews. The Kansas City native is a graduate of Bethune-Cookman University.
