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Scout Motors is hittin’ the road

Scout Motors to build manufacturing plant in Columbia
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The new Scout electric vehicles will be manufactured in the Midlands. | Photo via Scout Motors

Volkswagen is entering the electric off-road vehicle arena under the Scout Motors nameplate and those new cars will be built right here in the Midlands.

Last November, the Volkswagen Group announced it would revive the legendary Scout vehicle — originally produced from 1960 to 1980 as the world’s first family-friendly utility vehicle equipped for an off-road adventure.

The $2 billion investment has been on the Richland County radar for the past few weeks, but the company was unnamed until Friday afternoon. It was previously referred to as “Project Connect.”

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A rendering of the new manufacturing facility off Interstate 77. | Rendering via Scout Motors


Let’s quickly look at what this investment means for the Midlands and more about Scout Motors.
  • 200,000 — The amount of Scout vehicles produced annually when the facility is at full production capacity.
  • Vehicle production is targeted to begin by the end of 2026, with the first retail sales of trucks and SUVs occurring soon thereafter.
  • A groundbreaking will happen this summer and span property on both sides of Interstate 77 in Blythewood.
  • Scott Keogh, President and CEO of Scout Motors, said that the investment would “bring new opportunities to grow this community of innovators. The world needs more Scouts, and this is an important step in honoring Scout heritage and electrifying its future.”
  • Scout Motors is an independent US company backed by the Volkswagen Group.
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The 1978 International Scout II family of vehicles. | Photo via Scout Motors

The highly anticipated announcement made waves nationwide in the automotive industry. The International Scout family of vehicles is popular among car collectors.

The return of the brand was first reported in May of 2022 by The Wall Street Journal, noting Volkswagen’s bid to expand to the United States, the world’s most profitable auto market.
Olde English District

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Monday, March 6
  • March Harvest Dinner at City Roots Farm | Monday, March 6 | 6:30 p.m. | City Roots Farm, 1005 Airport Blvd., Columbia | $85 | Be prepared for a family-style, four-course farm-to-table dinner featuring seasonal ingredients from local farmers and artisans.
Tuesday, March 7
Thursday, March 9
  • Film Screening and Talkback: An Act of Worship | Thursday, Mar. 9 | 6:30-8:30 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St., Columbia | Free | Visit during extended hours at the CMA and enjoy a screening inspired by “Reverent Ornament: Art from the Islamic World,” followed by a panel featuring local Muslim activists and artists.*

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Development

Be the Broker: Who do you want to see move into Columbiana Station?
Presented by a COLAtoday Partner
The outside of the Columbiana Station.
Harbison Blvd.'s retail corridor is one of the most dynamic retail corridors in the state. | Photo provided by Trinity Partners
Rise and shine, Cola. Grab your morning coffee and put on your thinking cap — it’s time to be the broker and let us know what you want to see open its doors in Soda City.

Trinity Partners has multiple retail spaces available for lease in Columbiana Station, anchored by Regal Columbiana Grande, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Planet Fitness, and more, with a mix of national and local retailers.

The 953-61,785 sqft commercial space could be home to a new restaurant, trendy store, entertainment center, or anything your heart desires.

Harbison Blvd.'s retail corridor is bustling with businesses and ready to be home to another. Head to our Instagram to let us know who you want to see move into this space.

Looking for a new space for your own business? Explore more listings from Trinity Partners.*
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SPACE

Weather
  • 76º | Partly cloudy | 6% chance of rain
Sports

  • The Gamecock Women’s Basketball team won the SEC Tournament Sunday afternoon, defeating Tennessee 74-58. The Gamecocks also won the SEC regular-season title and will learn its first matchup in the NCAA tournament on Selection Sunday. 🏆(Gamecocks Online)
  • Congratulations to the Irmo High School Boys’ basketball team. Last week they defeated Lancaster 58-45 to win the Class 4A state championship game. This is the school’s sixth state championship under head coach Tim Whipple. 🏀 (WLTX)
Coming Soon
  • Biggby Coffee will open a new location this spring at 1424 Two Notch Rd. in Lexington, near the intersection of South Lake Drive and Interstate 20. The new coffee shop is a national chain out of Michigan that offers a variety of sweet drinks, sandwiches, and baked goods. (The State)
Announced
  • From the top rope. WWE SmackDown is coming to Colonial Life Arena on Friday, May 19. Tickets will be sold online only and go on sale Friday, March 10 at 10 a.m.
Drink
  • Free Time’s writers tried margaritas all over Cola in search of the best one. One of those is Coa Agaveria y Cocina’s Classic Margarita. Check out three more here. 🍹
Finance
  • Don’t let your credit cards go to waste. Kudos helps you get the most rewards and benefits every time you shop online. It’s simple to use and completely free. Try Kudos now and start saving on the money you’re already spending. 💸 *
Featured Job
  • Palmetto Primary Care Physicians is hiring a Part Time Medical Front Desk to serve as the first point of contact for patients. Responsibilities include: greeting and assisting patients, scheduling appointments, maintaining records + more. Learn more + apply.*
Travel
  • What’s your vacation vibe — cozy, luxurious, or chic? For a cozy stay, look no further than this snug and cheerful getaway on beachy St. Simons Island, Georgia. For luxury, book this lush Hawaiian resort on the island of Kaua’i. And for the chicest of stays, peep this renovated house in downtown Charleston.*
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United Way of the Midlands

Hop on our morning Zoom call
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A screen capture of our morning recorded weekly wrap. | Graphic by COLAtoday


Spend two minutes with us recapping last week, where we chat through:

🐙 Riverbanks Zoo’s grand opening of the Susan F. Boyd aquarium and reptile Conservation Center.
🦄 Hotel Trundle’s expansion
📚 All Good Book’s grand opening
⛲️ The kickoff to St Patrick’s Day in Five Points
👕 The soon-to-come grand opening of Pannerpete Vintage

Enjoy a little behind-the-scenes view of our morning chats about Cola with a little editing and photo backgrounds to snaz it up.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by David.

Editor’s pick: My imagination is going wild over how big the Scout Motors development news is for the Midlands. With 200,000 electric vehicles coming off the line and 4,000 new jobs, Columbia businesses will be booming for years to come.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Read about the new Hotel Trundle expansion, here.
Connect with us.

Editorial: Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Erin McPherson, Emily Shea, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Dayten Rose, Sarah Leonhardt, Katie Smith| Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

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