Ford is looking to develop further electric cars using Volkswagen Group’s dedicated MEB platform, the firm’s European boss has said.
The MEB platform – standing for modular electrification toolkit – already underpins Volkswagen’s ID.3 and ID.4 electric cars, and will also be the base for a range of upcoming battery-powered models from Audi, Seat and Skoda.
Ford had already entered into an agreement with the German automotive giant that would see it ‘design and build at least one high-volume fully electric vehicle in Europe’, with this expected to be a small SUV that will arrive in 2023. It will slot in below the Ford Mustang Mach-E in the range, with 600,000 models planned to use this platform.
But Stuart Rowley, Ford of Europe president, has hinted that the firms could collaborate further with this platform.
Speaking yesterday at the Financial Times Future of the Car talk, Rowley said: “We have a point of view on that, and we have certain things we’ve agreed with Volkswagen.
“Our alliance isn’t meant to be capped or defined, and we’re going to look for opportunities to work together for mutual benefit where it makes sense for both companies. I’ve got a point of view [on future plans], we haven’t shared that, but there could be a lot of opportunities with commercial vehicles, the MEB platform and in other areas.”
Volkswagen and Ford have also entered into an agreement concerning commercial vehicles, with the firms set to work together to create pick-ups and one-tonne vans.
Despite greater potential collaboration, Rowley was clear that it would still keep its own platforms for EVs, adding “we will not cede leadership in this technology to anybody”.
