Volkswagen and Ford today announced that they will work together on another electric vehicle for the European market. To do this, the American automaker will borrow from the German fully electric platform MEB.
Although Ford has yet to reveal official details about the new model, it will likely be another crossover, given Ford’s future plans. Only today, it announced that along with five light commercial vehicles, its all-electric European model line-up by 2024 will include a “mid-size crossover” and a “sports crossover”.
«Our strategic alliance with Volkswagen is an important part of Ford’s drive to offer a fully electric line of cars that are exclusively Ford and designed to meet the mobility needs of today’s Europe, a leader in the fight against climate change, ”said Stuart Rowley, President of Ford of Europe. .
Read more: Ford confirms the European EV range with four crossovers and five LCVs by 2024
The American automaker has already approached VW in the past to use its MEB platform for use on a compact electric crossover. It is expected that the car, which will be located under the Mustang Mach-E in the Ford line, will be a big departure from both Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4 thanks to its rugged square design.
Volkswagen, meanwhile, is pleased that Ford is using its MEB platform because it is open about its desire license it to a competing manufacturer in order to speed up the rate of EV adoption and of course help with the huge costs of electrification development. With this new car, Ford expects to produce 1.2 million cars on the MEB platform, which is twice as much as originally planned.
“Profitability and speed are now crucial to finally achieving a breakthrough in e-mobility in Europe. We solve both together with Ford, ”said Thomas Schmal, Head of Technology and Accessories at VW. “It is also a testament to MEB’s strengths, providing a unique package of high-tech, competitive costs and speed of project implementation. Therefore, the electric platform is an ideal solution for companies that want to accelerate their electrification.
Ford the first crossover based on the MEB It is expected to be released in the first half of this year, and the recently announced second model will begin to leave the lineup in 2023.
Ford will build a second EV based on the VW MEB platform for Europe
Source link Ford will build a second EV based on the VW MEB platform for Europe