Scout Motors Selects Mecklenburg County for New Headquarters, Creating 1,200 Jobs
Scout Motors, an emerging automotive manufacturer revitalizing a legacy American brand, will locate its headquarters in Mecklenburg County, employing 1,200 workers by 2030. This represents a capital investment of nearly $207 million.
The headquarters, which will be located at the Plaza Midwood Commonwealth in Charlotte, will serve as the central hub for leadership and innovation.
“Mecklenburg County is quickly becoming a major hub for the automotive industry, and Scout Motors’ major investment underscores that momentum,” said Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners Chair Mark Jerrell. “Mecklenburg County has everything in place to support the company’s success — from world-class transportation infrastructure and a highly skilled engineering workforce to proximity to major manufacturing centers and a pro-business climate that fosters innovation and growth.”
This is one of the largest job creation announcements in Charlotte over the past decade.
“Charlotte is well known as the home of strong global brands, and we’re thrilled to welcome Scout Motors to that list,” said Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. “This project is a major job creation milestone for the city and will serve as a catalyst for continued revitalization in a part of our city that’s seeing new life through infrastructure and development. We can’t wait to see the impact this innovative company’s investment will bring to our city.”
The Charlotte headquarters will serve as the home base for executive leadership, research and development, finance, IT, sales, marketing and other key corporate functions. The average salary is $172,878, well above the MSA average.
Scout Motors said Charlotte was chosen following a “comprehensive, multi-state evaluation.”
“Charlotte is the ideal home for Scout Motors — a place as dynamic as our people and brand, where heritage and pride meet progress and innovation,” said Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Scout Motors. “With a thriving talent pool, world-class universities, and a deserved reputation as a launchpad for bold ideas, Charlotte offers the momentum we need to scale quickly and sustainably. 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 begin establishing its Charlotte presence gradually, with plans for initial staffing and office development beginning in 2026 and full headquarters operations scaling up over several years.
“Scout Motors is revitalizing an iconic American brand, creating high-quality jobs, and building the next great automotive company right here in the Carolinas,” said Governor Josh Stein. “Our business-friendly climate, our top-tier research universities and community colleges, our leadership in the clean energy economy, our quality of life, and above all, our people make companies want to call North Carolina home.”
Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte partnered on the project with the North Carolina Department of Commerce, the state General Assembly, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, Charlotte Center City Partners, UNC Charlotte, North Carolina A&T State University, Central Piedmont Community College, the North Carolina Community College System and Charlotte Works.
The Charlotte region is home to many of the world’s most recognized companies, with more than 19 Fortune 500/1000 companies based in the region. In addition to direct hiring, economic development studies find that corporate headquarters have a significant indirect impact, boosting local small businesses. This project is estimated to create more than 3,800 indirect jobs.
During the past 12 months, Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte have collaborated on more than a dozen economic development projects to support relocations and expansions, including AssetMark, SoFi Technologies and Pacific Life. These efforts have created more than 3,600 new jobs and $422 million in capital investment in the city.
About Scout Motors
The Scout, originally produced by International Harvester from 1961-80, was the world’s first utility vehicle capable of both off-road adventure and family duty. Scout Motors was formed to craft the next era of trucks and rugged SUVs rooted in the same tradition that made the original an American icon. In October 2024, Scout Motors unveiled its new concept vehicles, the Scout® Traveler™ SUV and Scout Terra™ truck. Initial production is targeted to begin in 2027 at the Scout Motors Production Center, which is now under construction.