Scout Motors Taps Jeep Designer for Lead Role

Scout Motors, the company backed by Volkswagen Group to revive the Scout SUV brand with a battery-electric-vehicle lineup, hires a leading designer from the Jeep brand, Chris Benjamin, to be its head of design.

Benjamin will serve as the steward of the iconic Scout design, overseeing interior and exterior design, concept development, user experience and overall integration of design and technology in Scout Motors products and experiences.

“Chris’ work is prolific. For nearly 25 years he’s brought to life vehicles that stand out on the road,” says Scout Motors CEO and President Scott Keogh. “His thumbprints are all over many of the most beloved off-road vehicles in the market today. I’m confident that Chris will build on that experience as he defines the next chapter of design for Scout and electric utility vehicles.”

Scout Motors is readying a BEV truck and SUV, slated for production by the end of 2026 at a new factory being developed near Columbia, SC.

Benjamin has worked for Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volvo and Stellantis. Most recently, he led interior design at Stellantis, with responsibility for Jeep Wagoneer, as well as Chrysler, Dodge and Ram models. He was involved in the design of both the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer L, which won Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX honors in 2022 and 2023, respectively. He is a graduate of the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

“I’ve been fortunate in my career to shape many off-road-focused products that appeal to a broad range of Americans,” Benjamin says. “Classic Scout vehicles have always exerted a magnetic pull on me. They created the archetype for the modern SUV in the’60s and proved that a daily driver could also be a weekend adventurer.”

The Scout, originally produced by International Harvester from 1960 to 1980, was the world’s first utility vehicle capable of both off-road adventure and family duty. Its early popularity directly influenced Ford into greenlighting the original Bronco SUV.

Scout Motors operates as an independent subsidiary of Volkswagen Group.