Audi Confirms Hybrid “Anti-Defender” SUV: To Be Manufactured in the US Using Scout Platform

Audi strengthens its position in the North American market by confirming it will build a new luxury SUV in the United States for the first time. The Ingolstadt brand aims to compete directly against the Land Rover Defender with this off-roader.

Strategic Investment to Compete and Avoid Tariffs

Audi is strongly stepping up its assault on the North American market . Building vehicles inside the US is an action rivals BMW and Mercedes have already implemented . The VW-owned luxury brand lagged behind its opposition in stateside sales . The absence of a US plant hit Audi severely with tariffs . This is due to its reliance on imports from Europe and Mexico . Now, the company plans to tackle that problem . Audi will launch a new luxury SUV to meet this challenge . The vehicle aims directly at the Land Rover Defender .

Production in Blythewood Through Scout Motors

The secret SUV will be a range extender hybrid . They designed it specifically for the US market . Furthermore, they will build it locally . Audi is not about to commission a new factory of its own on American soil . The German website Automobilewoche reported on this strategy . Instead, Audi will build the SUV at the Blythewood, South Carolina, plant . That factory belongs to Scout Motors, a VW-owned brand . Scout plans to begin rolling out trucks and SUVs by late 2027 . The new Audi will probably be due in 2028 “.

Ladder-Frame Architecture: A First for Audi

Scout Motors was resurrected by VW in 2022 . The brand had been dormant since 1980 . Scout plans to launch the Traveler SUV and the Terra truck . Scout's models feature a ladder-frame chassis . This type of architecture would be a first for Audi . The Scout vehicles also offer four-wheel drive systems . They come with proper locking differentials, increasing their robustness “.

Range Extender Hybrid Powertrain

Scout offers both fully electric and range-extender powertrains . CEO Scott Keogh told Bloomberg about the customers' preference . Over 80% of reservations are for the range-extender . The pure EVs can travel 350 miles (563 km) with 120 kWh batteries . However, the range-extenders provide around 500 miles (800 km) of range . Only 150 miles (240 km) of that range comes from the smaller battery . Audi will adopt this approach to ensure great range “.

Design Hints and Projected Launch

Audi has not revealed any images of this new SUV yet . It has not been caught in spy shots either . Nonetheless, the automaker provided strong hints that an off-roader is on the way . The Q6 e-tron Offroad Concept debuted earlier in 2025 . This prototype suggested the brand’s off-road focus . The final production SUV will be much bigger and boxier . This differs from the Q6 base used for the concept . The new off-roader is expected to debut in 2028 .