Scout Motors names chief technical officer ahead of Blythewood plant opening

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Scout Motors Inc. has named Burkhard Huhnke the company’s as chief technical officer.

In this role, Huhnke will report to Scout Motors CEO and President Scott Keogh and will lead the company’s vehicle engineering strategy and team, a news release stated.

“Burkhard’s extensive experience with startups, EVs and the automotive industry coupled with his entrepreneurial spirit make him the ideal leader to help take Scout Motors to the next level,” said Keogh in the release. “With more than 25 years of experience, Burkhard knows the ins and outs of our industry and is focused on creating the next generation of smart, capable vehicles. I look forward to the innovative ideas he will bring to Scout Motors and our customers.”

Huhnke joins Scout Motors after serving most recently as the chief technology officer for Fisker Inc., where he led the company’s global engineering and software teams, according to the release. Prior to Fisker, he held the role of vice president of automotive at Synopsys Inc., a chip-design company in Silicon Valley. There, he spearheaded the company’s triple-shift-left strategy, advancing testing, quality and performance evaluation to the early stages of the development process.

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Huhnke previously spent 20 years with the Volkswagen Group, holding leadership roles within engineering and R&D, the release stated. He initiated and co-founded the Volkswagen Automotive Innovation Center (VAIL) at Stanford University, where students pioneer vehicle technology with a focus on human-centered mobility solutions. Huhnke attended the Technische Universität Braunschweig (University of Brunswick – Institute of Technology) in Braunschweig, Germany, where he studied electrical and electronics engineering. He later returned to the university and obtained a Doctorate in optical distance measurement.

“I am thrilled to join Scout Motors to help revitalize an American icon and make history,” said Huhnke in the release. “My passion has always been to shape and share the next generation of automotive technology. I firmly believe Scout Motors will be at the forefront of that important effort, and I am excited to get started.”