Ford has hinted that it could build several electric vehicles based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform – but its European boss insisted the company “will not cede the leadership of this technology to anyone.”
Ford and the Volkswagen Group have entered into an extensive engineering partnership, involving Ford developing commercial vehicles for both companies, while also having access to the VW Group’s MEB platform.
The Blue Oval is currently being tested on its first MEB-based electric vehicle, a small SUV slated for 2023 that will be found under the Mustang Mach-E on the Ford platform, and it is understood that at least one another Ford using the platform is planned.
Asked at the FT Future of the Car summit about building other models on the MEB platform, Ford European President Stuart Rowley said: “We have a point of view on this and we have some things. that we approved with Volkswagen. Our alliance is not meant to be capped or defined, and we will look for opportunities to work together for mutual benefit where it makes sense to both companies.
“I have a point of view [on future plans], we haven’t shared this, but there could be plenty of opportunities with utility vehicles, MEB platform and other areas. “
When asked if there was a risk for Ford to use Volkswagen’s MEB platform for small and mid-size vehicles rather than developing its own electric vehicle architectures, Rowley added, “At Ford, we have our own global battery-electric vehicle platforms, and we always will, like with the Mustang Mach-E and the new F-150 Lightning. We will not cede the leadership of this technology to anyone.
“The midsize vehicle segment in Europe is very large and Volkswagen has a lot more scale than Ford, so that makes sense. [to use MEB]. For Ford, commercial vehicles in Europe are vital and we have a deal for a new one-ton van [the next-generation Transit and Transporter] and pick up [the Ranger and Amarok] with Volkswagen and we will take the lead in this area.
“The capital required to undertake this journey is enormous and we are not the only company in this industry considering alliances. We’re both clear-eyed about it, but so far we’re both very happy with the platform.
“As we move up to where a business has scale, it makes sense to be inspired by that. But to be very clear, Ford has and will have its own battery-powered electric platforms globally, and we will be using some of them in Europe as well. “
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Source: www.autocar.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-05-13 14:21:37
