Scout Motors has detailed the audio design strategy behind its upcoming Scout Traveler SUV and Scout Terra truck. The company built a custom sound library from three sources: a vintage International Harvester Scout, a Kentucky farm, and a Nashville recording studio. The result is a library of more than 70 vehicle sounds meant to replace the engine noise absent in electric vehicles with intentional audio cues.
Highlights
- Three sound pillars form the audio identity: heritage mechanical recordings, rural field recordings, and acoustic guitar sessions.
- More than 70 distinct sounds were developed for alerts, feedback, and branded audio moments across both vehicles.
- Vintage Scout recordings captured in an anechoic chamber provide raw mechanical textures like ignition clicks and turn signal sounds.
- Professional mastering was completed at House of David studio in Nashville rather than digitally on standard equipment.
Three Pillars Shape the Audio Library
Scout Motors structured its vehicle sound design around three thematic pillars. The first, called “Icon Preserved,” draws from recordings of an original International Harvester Scout truck captured in the company’s anechoic chamber in Novi, Michigan. Engineers isolated sounds like the turn signal click, button snaps, door latches, and engine ignition.
The second pillar, “Connection to the Land,” features field recordings from a family-owned farm in Kentucky. The audio team captured ambient sounds including wind through wheat fields, grain silo acoustics, and the sounds of agricultural tools.
The third pillar, “Humble American,” centers on a handcrafted acoustic guitar recorded in a Nashville studio. The goal was to capture the instrument’s tonal and resonant qualities rather than musical performances.
Blending Heritage With Function
The three pillars were layered into composite sounds. According to the company, techniques included striking the guitar body for bass depth, adding single-string plucks for tonal texture, and applying the reverb characteristics of a grain silo as an acoustic imprint.
“Scout Community UX is about creating harmony between the physical and digital with a sound you don’t just hear, you feel and remember,” said Chris Benjamin, Chief Design Officer, Scout Motors. “It’s about creating space for connection; with the people in your life, and with your surroundings. A sound story that is truly Scout.”
Welcome and Start Sounds
The welcome sound was designed as a short acknowledgment when the driver enters the vehicle. The start sound, triggered by the start button, begins with a deep tactile impact and then opens into a wider soundscape.
“The sounds in our new vehicles have been thoughtfully crafted, from the intricate recordings of a vintage Scout vehicle in an anechoic chamber to the handcrafted acoustic guitar sessions in a Nashville studio, all to invent our vehicle’s voice for the very first time,” said Andre Nitze-Nelson, Scout Motors Director, UX Design. “This process ensures a memorable ‘Community UX’ where distinct sounds prioritize safety, utility, and pure joy, all while sharing a unique ‘Scout sound family’ DNA that will elevate the driving adventure.”
Sound Categories by Use Case
The design team organized sounds into three functional categories. Safety-related sounds play rarely and use clear, calm tones. Utility sounds play multiple times per day and balance function with brand character. Personality-driven sounds play a few times daily and express identity without becoming intrusive.
All sounds were mastered at House of David studio in Nashville using analog equipment. The studio’s history includes recordings by Neil Young and the International Harvesters, which Scout Motors noted as an alignment with the brand’s heritage.
Production Timeline
Scout Motors plans to begin production at its facility in Blythewood, South Carolina, in 2027. More information is available at www.scoutmotors.com.
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