Volkswagen is resurrecting Scout, the boxy proto-SUV of the 1960s

(CNN) — The Scout, a one-time competitor to Ford Broncos and Jeeps that was last sold more than four decades ago, is being resurrected by Volkswagen as a line of all-electric trucks and SUVs.

Scout will become its own separate brand offering off-highway-oriented electric trucks and SUVs in North America. A Scout SUV and pickup truck are expected to go on sale around 2026.

“The vehicles will be designed, engineered and manufactured in the U.S. for American customers,” the company said in a statement.

Prototypes are set to be unveiled next year, the company added.

The boxy Scout was originally the product of International Harvester, a brand better known for farm equipment and commercial trucks. Produced from 1961 to 1980, it was the truck-maker’s foray into the passenger vehicle market.

The term “sport-utility vehicle” didn’t exist at the time, but the Scout helped define what would become the SUV market segment. It was also available as a pickup during that time.

It was originally seen as a competitor to the Jeep CJ, the predecessor of today’s Jeep Wrangler. In 1965, Ford came out with the Bronco, its own competitor in this new vehicle segment.

The Wrangler is now the core model of the Jeep brand, considered to be one of the world’s most valuable passenger vehicle brands. Ford recently reintroduced the Bronco brand on two new SUVs that have become major sellers. In a recent month, Ford sold nearly as many of the small Bronco Sport as it did of the popular Escape crossover SUV.

Classic SUVs like the old Broncos, Jeeps and Scouts have become popular with car collectors in recent years, keeping their names and images in the public consciousness.

Volkswagen has been shifting aggressively to electric vehicles ever since its embarrassing diesel emissions cheating scandal of 2015. The company has been rolling out electric Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen models among others. Soaring demand for electric vehicles has caused VW to run out of EVs to sell in key markets.