As Rivian prepares to kick off production of its more affordable R2 series next year, it is making some tough staffing decisions . More than 100 salaried employees at its Normal, Illinois, facility are being let go, with most of the cuts affecting the manufacturing team.

While the layoffs are part of the company’s broader effort to streamline operations, the news has opened the door for another electric vehicle startup to step in. Scout Motors, a new EV brand launched by Volkswagen in the US market, is taking advantage of the opportunity. Rather than sitting on the sidelines, it is actively courting the newly displaced talent.

As Autoblog noticed, shortly after the layoffs were announced, Scout Motors’ head of logistics, Jacopo Marzetti, took to LinkedIn to express support for the affected Rivian workers, encouraging them to consider applying for positions at Scout. While Rivian hasn’t disclosed the exact number of job cuts, TechCrunch reports that around 140 positions are being eliminated and can, therefore, apply for a job at Scout.

Read: These Are The New Scout Terra Truck And Traveler SUV

According to Rivian, the layoffs are being made “as part of an ongoing effort to improve operational efficiency for R2.” Crain’s Chicago Business adds that “affected employees are eligible for rehire and encouraged to apply to other open positions within Rivian.”

A look at Scout Motors’ career page reveals it has 133 current vacancies. Some of these positions are crucial in engineering, focusing on body systems, drive systems, and energy systems. It’s also seeking vehicle software and electrical engineering staff, as well as specialists in logistics.

Most of the positions are in Columbia, South Carolina, the location of Scout’s forthcoming factory. There are also several positions available in Fremont, California, as well as at the brand’s innovation center in Novi, Michigan.

Shared DNA, but Key Differences

Former Rivian employees will bring valuable expertise to the Scout brand. Just like Rivian did, Scout is launching with an electric pickup and an electric SUV. However, the VW-owned brand is also readying range-extended models, something that Rivian doesn’t do. Even so, like Rivian, Scout’s models promise to be rugged and perfect for those with an adventurous spirit.

A key differentiator will be price. The Scout models will be priced from as low as $50,000 after incentives. By comparison, the Rivian R1T and R1S start at $69,900 and $75,900, respectively.

Redesigning an iconic model is an incredibly difficult task as there’s a lot of history, anticipation, and pressure. It’s a feeling that Mustang designers know all too well, but there are plenty of other models with high-stakes including the Bronco, Charger, and Mercedes G-Class.

We’d also throw Scout into that category, but their situation is drastically different. The last International Harvester Scout was built on October 21, 1980 and marked the end of an era as over 500,000 had been made over the course of the preceding two decades.

More: Meet The New Scout Terra Truck And Traveler SUV

While Scout had become a distant memory, Volkswagen revived the brand and, thankfully, decided to embrace its roots. As part of this effort, they wanted a retro-inspired design that acknowledged the past but was still modern.

That’s easier said than done and the company recently revealed “bringing back an icon doesn’t happen overnight.” They went on to say the Traveler and Terra started as a “blank sheet of paper” and the design team obsessed over every curve, angle, beltline, and radius.

Photos Scout

While that’s to be expected, the company also used modern production methods to ensure the models were perfect. As part of this effort, 3D-printed parts played a role in making sure the vehicles were the best they could be. As Scout explained, the end result is “Not rushed. Not generic. Not a box.”

You can add not coming anytime soon as production isn’t slated to begin until 2027. However, when they arrive, pricing could start as low as $50,000 with incentives.

Scout hasn’t revealed many specifications, but electric variants are slated to offer a range of up to 350 miles (563 km). There will also be an extended range variant with a gas-powered generator.