Summary:
German automaker Volkswagen and American auto giant Ford, have officially finalised their joint venture. Back in January last year, two of the world’s largest carmakers, joined forces by announcing a global alliance.
As part of the partnership, Ford will develop a new electric vehicle based on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive (MEB) platform for the European market. This EV is slated to be launched in 2023. This will make Ford the first carmaker outside the Volkswagen Group to use the latter’s dedicated EV platform. From 2023 onwards, Ford plans to develop over 6,00,000 electric vehicles based on the MEB platform over the next six years for European markets. Details regarding the Ford-Volkswagen EV are scarce, but we expect it to be similar to VW’s ID.3.
Aside from EV platform sharing, Ford and Volkswagen will work with Argo AI, an autonomous vehicle platform company, to develop autonomous vehicle technology and introduce it to their US and European models.
Other than that, the two brands will also work on developing two commercial vans and a pick-up truck based on Ford Ranger. Likely to be called the VW Amarok, the pick-up truck is expected to go on sale by 2022.
Volkswagen and Ford alliance does not include cross-ownership between the companies and will remain competitors in the marketplace. Ford is also in a joint venture with Mahindra to work closely on product development, sourcing, and technology, especially for the Indian market.
German automaker Volkswagen and American auto giant Ford, have officially finalised their joint venture. Back in January last year, two of the world’s largest carmakers, joined forces by announcing a global alliance.
As part of the partnership, Ford will develop a new electric vehicle based on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive (MEB) platform for the European market. This EV is slated to be launched in 2023. This will make Ford the first carmaker outside the Volkswagen Group to use the latter’s dedicated EV platform. From 2023 onwards, Ford plans to develop over 6,00,000 electric vehicles based on the MEB platform over the next six years for European markets. Details regarding the Ford-Volkswagen EV are scarce, but we expect it to be similar to VW’s ID.3.
Aside from EV platform sharing, Ford and Volkswagen will work with Argo AI, an autonomous vehicle platform company, to develop autonomous vehicle technology and introduce it to their US and European models.
Other than that, the two brands will also work on developing two commercial vans and a pick-up truck based on Ford Ranger. Likely to be called the VW Amarok, the pick-up truck is expected to go on sale by 2022.
Volkswagen and Ford alliance does not include cross-ownership between the companies and will remain competitors in the marketplace. Ford is also in a joint venture with Mahindra to work closely on product development, sourcing, and technology, especially for the Indian market.