Ford and Volkswagen just signed off on a historic partnership a few weeks ago, but the automakers are wasting no time capitalizing on that deal. One of the most important components of the joint venture includes Ford’s access to Volkswagen’s MEB all-electric vehicle platform, which underpins the current ID.3, a compact C-segment hatchback. Now, VW’s first-ever compact electric crossover, the ID.4, has also entered production at the Volkswagen Zwickau-Mosel Plant in Germany.
“With the ID.4, Volkswagen is adding an all-electric vehicle to its offering in the compact SUV class, the world’s largest growth segment,” said Ralf Brandstätter, Volkswagen CEO. “Following the ID.3, this is already the second model based on the modular electric drive matrix (MEB). Going forward, the car will be built and sold in Europe, in China, and later also in the USA. That is how we are scaling the MEB platform globally and laying the economic foundations for the success of our ID. family.”
The Volkswagen ID.4 features a low drag coefficient of 0.28 and scalable battery system that gives it a range of 500 kilometers (310 miles) on the European WLTP cycle. It will initially launch in rear-wheel-drive configuration, with an all-wheel-drive model to follow at a later date. Like all models based on the new modular electric drive matrix (MEB), the ID.4 will be very spacious thanks to its compact electric drive technology.
The new Ford vehicle built on VW’s MEB platform is expected to be some sort of hatchback or small crossover, like the ID.3 or ID.4. The Ford Mustang Mach-E is already on its way to Europe, so perhaps the VW tie-up could consist of something smaller to slot beneath it. Or, maybe the automaker will add a hatchback as a smaller city-dwelling alternative. Currently, the new model is slated to arrive sometime before the 2023 model year.
In addition to the new Ford electric vehicle, the multi-billion dollar partnership between VW and Ford is expected to spawn a mid-size pickup truck developed by Ford, a city delivery van developed by Volkswagen, and a new Ford commercial van. Volkswagen also recently made a $2.6 billion investment in Argo AI, the self-driving software company backed by Ford.
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Comments
Perhaps I’m wrong but it sure does look like FORD and the VW empire will merge. May not be a bad thing but you would think FORD would be able to do these things on their own provided they would get their turds together. VW also owns a huge portion of NAVISTAR as well as AUDI and PORCHE so such a merger would complement each other.
I’m not so sure about a merger. VW also owns Lamborghini and some other posh brands. I’m not sure what each would gain merging from a market share exposure. Both exist in several shared markets, while others, not so much. As always, it’ll boil down to $$$. I’m not sure what these “shared” exercises do for each except provide shared development costs for a given model or models, and possibly to test how their respective teams work together. It seems all manufacturers attempt this from time to time. I’m always curious as to what perceived or actual chemistry causes the temporary union.
Personally, I see no reason for Ford & VW to merge. The idea of shared tech is simply to reduce development cost, and get mutually better tech. These contracts amount to borrowing from each other in some equitable way, because quite often, what one company excels at, the other is weak at, and vice versa.