Ford and Volkswagen strengthen e-mobility

Car titans Volkswagen Group and Ford Motor Company have expanded their e-mobility partnership with Ford planning to produce another electric model for the European market based on Volkswagen's modular electric drive matrix platform, as well as doubling its planned MEB volume to 1.2 million units over the next six years.

"Our strategic alliance with Volkswagen is an important element of Ford's commitment to offer an all-electric range of vehicles that are uniquely Ford and designed to meet the mobility needs of a modern Europe that is leading the fight against climate change," said Stuart Rowley, chair of Ford of Europe.

The first Ford model to use MEB will be an all-electric crossover and is expected to roll off the assembly line at the Ford Electrification Center in Cologne, Germany, beginning in 2023 and will give a further push to the automaker's e-mobility strategy.

Ford initially planned just one model based on the MEB with a total volume of 600,000 units; the company has not yet released any details about its second planned model.

For Volkswagen, expanding the collaboration with Ford will take it one step closer to becoming a platform supplier for electric vehicles as a further pillar in addition to the core business of making and selling cars.

The MEB platform, which can be used by various brands and manufacturers, already provides the technology base for ten electric models from five brands – used to build approximately 300,000 units in 2021; it is one of the leading electric platforms worldwide.

"Profitability and speed are now crucial for finally achieving the breakthrough of e-mobility in Europe," said Thomas Schmall, CEO of Volkswagen Group Components. "We are tackling both together with Ford. Today's agreement will further accelerate the electrification of the two companies. This is also proof of the strengths of the MEB, which provides a unique package of high-tech, competitive costs and speed in implementing projects. The electric platform is thus the ideal solution for companies looking to speed up their electrification."

The MEB offers a high level of competitiveness while providing considerable freedom of design and model development. Covering a wide range of segments and vehicle types, from compact vehicles to SUVs and vans, the MEB also offers a much more competitive cost base compared to other EVs due to the utilization of economics of scale worldwide.

To help achieve the breakthrough in e-mobility worldwide, Volkswagen shares the MEB and other Group platforms with partners in a newly created business unit, "Platform Business," which is now responsible for these partnerships.

Much like screen technologies with Samsung, Volkswagen is well on its way to being a primary choice for manufacturers looking to select a proven and reliable e-mobility system, as opposed to setting up their own development, making a new industry out of the burgeoning EV revolution.