Volkswagen is open to licensing its MEB platform for electric cars to third-party manufacturers
German automaker Volkswagen is planning to make up to 50 million electric vehicles (EV) in the coming years. Herbert Diess, Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen told German publication Automotive News that the company’s plans for electric vehicle platform and battery procurement are being prepared for handling production of 50 million vehicles.
Volkswagen is also looking to expand its cooperation with Ford, primarily in commercial vehicles segment, Diess said.
“What we’re talking about is sharing a few platforms and manufacturing sites there, which makes sense. And within the dialogue, we are also touching other options, but this will be the main focus if we come to a conclusion,” he said.
To expand cooperation with Ford
Volkswagen could take support from Ford in developing a successor to the company’s Amarok pickup truck, Diess said.
He reiterated that Volkswagen is also open to licensing its MEB platform for electric cars to third-party manufacturers, while adding that this is a way to augment economies of scale.
Presently, there are hundreds of varied drivetrains in the industry, and there is a lot of difference in drivetrain. The differentiation will be reduced as the battery cells will become similar based on the same chemistry inside, said the Volkswagen CEO.
Battery procurement is ready
He further mentioned that the company could manufacture 50 million electric vehicles worldwide across its brands, starting in 2020, and it already had agreements for sourcing batteries for the vehicles.
By licensing MEB platform to other automakers would result in further efficiency gains, he added.
In 2017, Volkswagen Group has sold around 10.7 million vehicles. The German automaker is heavily investing in the electric vehicles segment as it is trying to rebuild its status after the scandal of rigged emissions tests of diesel engines in the US that has cost the company billions of dollars in fines and refits.
