Volkswagen is reportedly planning to re-enter the US pickup market, though details remain unconfirmed. The automaker has several possible paths, from importing the Amarok to leveraging its new Scout brand or building a low-cost electric truck.

One option is building the Amarok in the US, similar to how Ford adapted the Ranger for American buyers. However, that approach might lack excitement. Alternatively, Scout—VW's new off-road-focused brand—is developing body-on-frame pickups and SUVs in Michigan, with production slated for South Carolina by 2028. A full-size truck competing with the F-150 would require such a platform, but profit margins and cannibalization risks with Scout remain concerns.

A more intriguing possibility involves small, affordable electric pickups. With the $25,000 Slate Auto truck and the sub-$30,000 Ford Fathom arriving soon, VW could see a trend. Using its MEB platform—already used in the ID. Buzz and ID.4—could yield a cheap EV truck. The ID.4 recently ended production at VW's Chattanooga plant, freeing capacity for a new model.

While nothing is finalized, VW's history of building Golf-based pickups in the 1980s to dodge the chicken tax shows precedent. Whether they choose a niche or mainstream approach, the US market remains a key battleground for the brand.