To save development time, Ford is borrowing Volkswagen’s MEB platform for two future SUVs. But after that, it is ultimately a new in-house platform that will be preferred.
Announced in 2019, the partnership between Ford and Volkswagen for the design of several vehicles has already taken off. After having launched the collaboration with utility vehicles and MPVs (Ford Tourneo and VW Caddy) and pick-ups (Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok), it will continue in 2023 with two new SUVs from Ford.
Thanks to the partnership with the Wolfsburg manufacturer, Ford SUVs will use Volkswagen’s MEB platform dedicated to electric vehicles. The first, whose name we do not yet know, will be a close cousin of the Volkswagen ID.4, with similar dimensions. It should be officially presented in March. The second, with a sportier look, will be presented a few months later. Both models will be produced in Cologne, which has undergone significant investment and will see the Fiesta disappear.
Some savings before a massive investment
The use of this MEB platform therefore saves money and above all saves development time, which is generally very long for the creation of a new chassis, especially when it is electric. Ford estimates that it gained about two years. But after these two models, which will complete a range still poor in 100% electric vehicles with the unique Mustang Mach-E, the collaboration will stop there.
Martin Sander, general manager of the Ford Model e Europe branch dedicated to the brand’s electric vehicles, said in an interview with our colleagues fromautomobile week that the Valence plant will soon be transformed to accommodate the production of future “in-house” electric vehicles. Currently, the Spanish factory produces the Kuga and the two Galaxy and S-Max minivans soon to be discontinued. The conversion of the Valencia plant will allow Ford to prepare for the arrival of vehicles based on a new technical platform, developed in-house. The goal is also to develop the entire software part, in particular with ever more numerous and advanced driving aids.
« We will use a purely electric platform in Valencia,” Sander said. “At the moment, however, we still don’t know when it will happen and what models we will build there.“, he continues. In any case, this future platform should be ready before 2030, the date of Ford’s transition to 100% electric. By then, the Blue Oval hopes to sell 600,000 electric vehicles each year in Europe.
Photos : DR.
Also read on Auto-Moto.com:
Electric Ford SUV (2023): a simple clone of Volkswagen ID.4?
Ford prepares the arrival of the electric SUV based on Volkswagen ID.4
Ford/Volkswagen alliance: details revealed
To save development time, Ford is borrowing Volkswagen’s MEB platform for two future SUVs. But after that, it is ultimately a new in-house platform that will be preferred.
Announced in 2019, the partnership between Ford and Volkswagen for the design of several vehicles has already taken off. After having launched the collaboration with utility vehicles and MPVs (Ford Tourneo and VW Caddy) and pick-ups (Ford Ranger and Volkswagen Amarok), it will continue in 2023 with two new SUVs from Ford.
Thanks to the partnership with the Wolfsburg manufacturer, Ford SUVs will use Volkswagen’s MEB platform dedicated to electric vehicles. The first, whose name we do not yet know, will be a close cousin of the Volkswagen ID.4, with similar dimensions. It should be officially presented in March. The second, with a sportier look, will be presented a few months later. Both models will be produced in Cologne, which has undergone significant investment and will see the Fiesta disappear.
Some savings before a massive investment
The use of this MEB platform therefore saves money and above all saves development time, which is generally very long for the creation of a new chassis, especially when it is electric. Ford estimates that it gained about two years. But after these two models, which will complete a range still poor in 100% electric vehicles with the unique Mustang Mach-E, the collaboration will stop there.
Martin Sander, general manager of the Ford Model e Europe branch dedicated to the brand’s electric vehicles, said in an interview with our colleagues fromautomobile week that the Valence plant will soon be transformed to accommodate the production of future “in-house” electric vehicles. Currently, the Spanish factory produces the Kuga and the two Galaxy and S-Max minivans soon to be discontinued. The conversion of the Valencia plant will allow Ford to prepare for the arrival of vehicles based on a new technical platform, developed in-house. The goal is also to develop the entire software part, in particular with ever more numerous and advanced driving aids.
« We will use a purely electric platform in Valencia,” Sander said. “At the moment, however, we still don’t know when it will happen and what models we will build there.“, he continues. In any case, this future platform should be ready before 2030, the date of Ford’s transition to 100% electric. By then, the Blue Oval hopes to sell 600,000 electric vehicles each year in Europe.
Photos : DR.
Also read on Auto-Moto.com:
Electric Ford SUV (2023): a simple clone of Volkswagen ID.4?
Ford prepares the arrival of the electric SUV based on Volkswagen ID.4
Ford/Volkswagen alliance: details revealed
