Volkswagen ready to share MEB electric platform with rivals

Volkswagen says it is ready to provide other manufacturers with access to its new MEB electric platform, thus reducing the costs of electric cars. The MEB serves as the technical foundation for the ID. Family. The drive consists of an electric motor integrated into the rear axle that includes power electronics and gearbox, a high-voltage, space-saving battery located in the vehicle’s floor and ancillary components built into the front of the vehicle.

In an interview with the Berlin-based newspaper 'Tagesspiegel', Michael Jost, Head of Strategy for Volkswagen, said that the modular electric drive matrix (MEB) should be a standard not just for Volkswagen Group: “Regarding this area, I think that we are industry forerunners in terms of costs and scalability. Therefore, we want to offer access to the MEB, by making it available to the entire industry. This represents a paradigm shift for us.” Volkswagen is already in various advanced talks with competitors, particularly in the volume segment, explains Jost.

Michael Jost: " I think that we are industry forerunners in terms of costs and scalability. Therefore, we want to offer access to the MEB, by making it available to the entire industry. This represents a paradigm shift for us.”

The MEB serves as the technical foundation for the ID. Family, the future generation of electric vehicles for the Volkswagen brand. The ID. Family includes, for example, the compact ID., which will begin to roll off the assembly line in Zwickau at the end of 2019, the van ID. BUZZ, the SUV model ID. CROZZ and the sedan ID. VIZZION. The platform is intended to be used Group-wide for 15 million vehicles by 2025.

Customised for electric vehicles
The MEB was developed as a technology platform specifically for purely electrically powered vehicles. It enables ranges similar to the level of today’s petrol-powered cars at the cost of current diesel models. Furthermore, the MEB architecture enables an increase in room, variability, comfort and dynamic. The drive consists of an electric motor integrated into the rear axle that includes power electronics and gearbox, a high-voltage, space-saving battery located in the vehicle’s floor and ancillary components built into the front of the vehicle.

The ID. Family includes, the compact ID., the van ID. BUZZ, the SUV model ID. CROZZ and the sedan ID. VIZZION.

MEB and ID. Family are part of the Volkswagen Group’s electric offensive, for which the company is investing around 30 billion euros by 2023. By 2025, the Group brands plan to increase the number of their all-electric cars from six today to more than 50. Jost, who is also the head of Group Product Strategy, emphasizes that electric vehicles are by no means synonymous with sacrifice: “We build cool electric cars that are fun to drive, beautifully designed and fully networked.” He notes that starting in 2023, or at the latest in 2024, Volkswagen will launch an electric model, which will be the size of a T-Roc, for less than 20,000 euros.

At the same time, Jost underlines that the electric offensive represents an important contribution to climate protection. “Volkswagen is of global importance and that is connected with a global responsibility. Successfully limiting global warming to no more than two degrees is crucial for our children and grandchildren,” says Jost, noting that Volkswagen supports the Paris climate protection targets. 

Also read: VW's MEB electric car platform: full details revealed