AUTONEWS

The partnership between Volkswagen and Ford is deepening

Ford and Volkswagen concluded an agreement on the joint development of vehicles almost three years ago, and the partnership is giving birth to new models for both companies. Among other things, Ford’s electric crossover based on the VW will have its premiere as early as next week.

Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume told Automotive News Europe that their partnership with Ford is “intensifying.” Blume’s comments come two months after Ford said it wanted to reduce its reliance on VW’s EV technology. The Blue Oval is investing in its own electric platform, borrowing Volkswagen’s MEB architecture to gain time savings in developing electric vehicles for the European market. Ford plans to offer only electric vehicles on the continent by 2030, and models based on its platform will arrive later this decade.

While Ford may be shifting resources toward its in-house EV technology, the automaker still has other projects with VW. The partnership included pickup trucks and light commercial vehicles. Volkswagen’s new Amarok pickup borrows its platform from the new Ford Ranger, and VW gives the pickup its own visual identity. Both Ford and VW plan to electrify those models.

Part of the partnership was also a joint investment in Argo AI, a company developing autonomous vehicle technology. The company split in October, with Ford and VW hiring many former employees to continue developing technology at their respective companies.

Ford’s first MEB-based model will debut on March 21. It will be in the same segment as the Volkswagen ID.4, and Ford is giving it a completely unique design. Powertrain details are a mystery, but it should borrow components from VW. Ford is also developing a second MEB-based EV codenamed “Sport Crossover”, the equivalent of the Volkswagen ID.5.

Ford also confirmed that the companies are only at the beginning of their “collaborative project”.

Prepared by: Ivan Mitić