Volkswagen’s strategy boss says the firm is prepared to offer its new MEB electric car architecture to other manufacturers – and is in talks with several major rivals.
The Volkswagen Group has invested heavily in developing the versatile pure-electric MEB platform, which will first be used on the production version of the ID hatch concept later this year. It will then be quickly rolled out across the group’s brands on a wide range of EVs.
Volkswagen recently agreed a wide-ranging alliance with Ford that could lead to the Blue Oval producing electric cars built on the MEB platform and Michel Jost, VW’s strategy chief, says the firm is evaluating more tie-ups.
In an interview with the Tagesspiegel newspaper, Jost said of the MEB platform: “I think we are industry forerunners in terms of cost and scalability. Therefore, we want to offer access to MEB, by making it available to the entire industry. This represents a paradigm shift to us.”
Jost added that he was in “advanced” talks with competitors, including several who were “in the volume segment”.
The Volkswagen Group is aiming to offer more than 50 electric cars – most of which will be built on MEB – by 2023. In the interview, Jost also confirmed that the firm is aiming to offer a T-Roc-sized electric model for less than £17,500 by 2024.
Read more
VW's MEB electric car platform: full details revealed
Volkswagen electric buggy revealed in new images
Volkswagen ID hatch prototype hits the road
Volkswagen CEO: we will launch one electric vehicle per month from 2022
