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Volkswagen Group MEB platform

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The Volkswagen Group MEB platform (German: Modularer E-Antriebs Baukasten, 'modular electric-drive toolkit')[1][2] is a modular car platform for electric cars developed by the Volkswagen Group and its subsidiaries.[3] It is used in models of Audi, Cupra, Škoda, and Volkswagen, along with Ford through partnership. The architecture is aimed to "consolidate electronic controls and reduce the number of microprocessors, advance the application of new driver-assistance technology and somewhat alter the way cars are built"[4] by the VW Group.

Volkswagen, chairman of the board of management of Volkswagen Group, Dr. Herbert Diess, presents the ID. line-up based on the MEB platform.

Plans

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The MEB platform is part of a Volkswagen strategy to start production of new battery electric vehicles between 2019 and 2025.[4] In 2017, the VW Group announced a gradual transition from combustion engine to battery electric vehicles with all 300 models across 12 brands having an electric version by 2030.[5]

As of May 2018, the VW Group had committed US$48 billion in electric-vehicle batteries supplies[6] and announced plans to outfit 16 factories to build electric cars by the end of 2022.[7] The Volkswagen-branded production cars started to be assembled in VW's Zwickau plant in Germany for the European market at the end of 2019, while two plants in North America and China started production in 2020 and Chattanooga, Tennessee in 2022.[8] The Škoda-branded SUV Enyaq is produced in the Škoda plant in Mladá Boleslav, Czech Republic, along with electric motors[9] and electric car batteries.[10]

As of November 2018, two types of the MEB platform were slated to be developed: one for passenger vehicles and one for utility automobiles that accommodate heavier cargo.[11] VW also stated that the platform would be available for procurement to competitor manufacturers.[12]

Ford Motor Company has a strategic partnership with Volkswagen for the MEB platform to benefit from economies of scale. As of mid-2024, Ford is building MEB-based Ford Explorer vehicles in Cologne.[13][14]

Applications

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Production vehicles

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As of 2024, the MEB platform underpins nine core models, with eight of them in active production, resulting in a total of 13 different vehicles.

(Sub-bullets indicate rebadged versions or derivatives of the same vehicle, e.g., coupe or cargo)

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    Audi Q4 e-tron
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    Audi Q5 e-tron
  •  
    Cupra Born
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    Cupra Tavascan
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    Ford Explorer EV
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    Ford Capri EV
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    Škoda Enyaq iV
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    Škoda Elroq
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    Volkswagen ID.3
  •  
    Volkswagen ID.4
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    Volkswagen ID.5
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    Volkswagen ID.6
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    Volkswagen ID.7
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    Volkswagen ID. Buzz
  •  
    Volkswagon ID. UNYX

Concept vehicles

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  •  
    Cupra UrbanRebel
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    Volkswagen ID. Buggy
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    Volkswagen ID. Life
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    Volkswagen ID.GTI

Sales to other manufacturers

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In 2018, VW announced that it is open to sharing the platform with manufacturers outside of the VW Group. In addition to the platform, VW also offered individual components as well as top hat development and contract manufacturing.[35]

Ford

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In late 2018, the companies announced talks about the sharing of technology.[36] In 2019, the planned volume was doubled from 600,000 to 1.2 million. Two models are planned to be produced by Ford, the Explorer EV and the Capri EV.[37]

Fisker (cancelled)

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In July 2020 Fisker announced that it was in negotiations with VW about using the MEB for the planned Fisker Ocean, that was already unveiled in late 2019.[38][39] A month later, the negotiations were halted.

In October 2020, it was announced that Magna Steyr will be assembling the vehicle using Magna's own EV technology.[40]

Mahindra

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Mahindra announced in late 2022 that they intend to use MEB components for Mahindra's upcoming EV platform named "Inglo".[41] Mahindra planned to launch five vehicles based on the Inglo.[42]

Electric motors

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Rear axle

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APP 310

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The MEB platform is supported by the APP 310 electric motor, which is a permanent magnet brushless motor. Fully developed by Volkswagen, the name "APP" derives from the arrangement of the motor and the gearbox in parallel with the axle, while "310" references its maximum torque of 310 N⋅m (31.6 kg⋅m; 229 lb⋅ft). Maximum torque is achieved at a low engine speed, which means that a 1-speed gearbox is sufficient for the entire rotational speed range. Together with the gearbox, the motor weighs only around 90 kg (200 lb).[43]

The motor is produced at component sites in Kassel, Germany and Tianjin, China, while the rotor and stator are produced in Italy by Eurotranciatura S.p.a..

APP 550

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The APP 550 was unveiled in April 2023 and delivers 550 N⋅m (56.1 kg⋅m; 406 lb⋅ft), as the naming scheme suggests. It is the same size as the APP 310. According to a press release the efficiency has been increased through an improved inverter.[44]

Optional Front axle

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All-wheel drive models are equipped with an auxiliary front axle motor. This motor is a 3-phase AC induction motor. It is only used when needed for acceleration or handling. It is purchased from a Magna subsidiary.[45]

Production numbers

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Model 2019[46] 2020[46] 2021[47] 2022[47] 2023[48] Total
Volkswagen ID.3 50 64,259 73,738 83,432 142,216 363,695
Volkswagen ID.4/5 - 6,487 134,319 207,934 223,425 572,165
Škoda Enyaq iV - 939 49,811 57,213 86,732 194,695
Audi Q4 e-tron - - 27,519 58,764 125,441 211,724
Volkswagen ID.6 - - 20,461 38,846 15,926 75,233
Cupra Born - - 4,801 36,153 45,748 86,702
Audi Q5 e-tron - - 99 3,113 5,506 8,718
Volkswagen ID. Buzz - - - 11,013 35,272 46,285
Volkswagen ID.7 - - - - 8,592 8,592
Ford Explorer EV - - - - - 0
Ford Capri EV - - - - - 0
Annual 50 71,685 310,748 496,468 688,858 1,567,809

Global market share

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2019 2020 2021 2022
MEB production 50 71,685 310,748 496,468
Global BEV Sales[49] 1,692,000 2,270,800 4,805,280 7,681,060
market share 0.00% 3.16% 6.47% 6.46%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Youtube Film: Der Modulare E-Antriebs-Baukasten. volkswagen-newsroom.com. 20.12.18.
  2. ^ "Meet the Volkswagen platform designed to spawn 10 million electric vehicles". Newsroom. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  3. ^ a b Julian Rendell. Skoda electric vehicle under development. Autocar. Published on 16 March 2016.
  4. ^ a b "All-Electric MEB Platform to Drive New Firsts at VW". WardsAuto. 12 January 2018.
  5. ^ Christoph Rauwald. VW to Build Electric Versions of All 300 Models by 2030. Bloomberg. 12 September 2017.
  6. ^ VW doubles its electric vehicle battery contracts to $48 billion. Fortune. 3 May 2018.
  7. ^ Darrell Etherington. Volkswagen has locked down $25B in battery supplies for its electric vehicle push TechCrunch. 13 March 2018.
  8. ^ Kane, Mark (30 January 2021). "Volkswagen Group: Five Plants Already Produce MEB-Based EVs". insideevs.com. Retrieved 5 February 2021.
  9. ^ Nick Gibbs. Skoda eyes new target customer for higher-priced EVs. Automotive News Europe. 31 March 2018.
  10. ^ Pavel Svačina. Škoda bude vyrábět baterie pro elektroauta. Pojede na ně i Vision E. (Czech). Mladá fronta DNES. Published on 10 September 2017.
  11. ^ Martin Murphy, Stefan Menzel. Volkswagen plant neue Standorte für Elektroautos (in Germam). Handelsblatt. 5 November 2018.[clarification needed]
  12. ^ Jake Holmes. 6 March 2019. Volkswagen will let other companies use its MEB electric-car platform. CNET.
  13. ^ Berman, Bradley (19 March 2020). "To go electric in Europe, Ford needs Volkswagen's affordable MEB EV platform". Electrek.
  14. ^ https://electrek.co/2024/06/04/fords-first-all-electric-explorer-rolls-out-new-ev-crossover-coming/
  15. ^ "Audi Q4 e-tron concept to be made in Zwickau". electrive.com. 7 October 2019.
  16. ^ a b Gitlin, Jonathan M. (14 April 2021). "Everything we know about Audi's next electric crossover, the Q4 e-tron". Ars Technica. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  17. ^ a b "New 2021 Audi Q4 e-tron revealed with sleek Sportback option". Auto Express. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  18. ^ "The Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron concept". Audi MediaCenter.
  19. ^ "New 2022 Cupra Born: 228bhp e-Boost pricing revealed".
  20. ^ Hyde, Ellis (22 April 2023). "New 2024 Cupra Tavascan all-electric coupe-SUV unveiled". Auto Express UK. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  21. ^ Nick Gibbs. Skoda eyes new target customer for higher-priced EVs. autonews.com. Published on 31 March 2018.
  22. ^ Walker, Steve (12 February 2020). "Skoda Enyaq: new electric SUV gets a name". Auto Express. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
  23. ^ Kable, Greg. "Volkswagen ID hatch to stay true to concept, says design boss". Autocar.
  24. ^ Cole, Craig (6 November 2019). "Volkswagen ID 3 production has officially started in Germany". Road Show by Cnet. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  25. ^ Lambert, Fred (20 August 2020). "VW starts ID.4 electric SUV production". electrec. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  26. ^ "Volkswagen ID Crozz inches closer to production, still has bad name". CNET. 11 September 2017. Retrieved 11 September 2017.
  27. ^ Kane, Mark (4 August 2021). "Watch Volkswagen ID.5 GTX Overview And Test Drive Impressions". InsideEVs. Retrieved 5 August 2021.
  28. ^ Blanco, Sebastian (18 April 2021). "VW ID.6, ID.6 Crozz Seven-Seater EV Unveiled, Loaded Up to Compete in China". caranddriver. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  29. ^ "A Bulli for the all-electric future: World premiere of the new ID. Buzz" (Press release). Wolfsburg/Hanover: Volkswagen Newsroom. 9 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  30. ^ "Cupra Reveals Stylish UrbanRebel: An Urban Electric Car".
  31. ^ Allan, Lawrence (9 September 2019). "Cupra Tavascan: emotive EV concept shown at Frankfurt". Autocar. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  32. ^ "ID. Buggy concept car". Volkswagen Newsroom.
  33. ^ "The Volkswagen ID. Buggy is celebrating its premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show". volkswagenag.com.
  34. ^ "ID. LIFE Concept Previews New Cheap EV From Volkswagen". InsideEVs. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
  35. ^ "Volkswagen Platform Business". vw-platform-business.com. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  36. ^ "Warum eine Fusion von VW und Ford Sinn ergeben würde". 31 October 2018. Archived from the original on 11 May 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  37. ^ "Is Ford bringing back the Capri as an electric model? - electrive.com". electrive.com. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  38. ^ "Fisker to go public & interested in VW's MEB platform - electrive.com". 16 July 2020. Archived from the original on 16 July 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  39. ^ "The Fisker Ocean's 'California Mode' Is Less Cool Than It Sounds". Jalopnik. 21 December 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  40. ^ "Fisker closes deal for supplier Magna to build its SUV, take stake in startup". Reuters. 15 October 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  41. ^ "Mahindra to use MEB components - electrive.com". electrive.com. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  42. ^ "Indian giant Mahindra unveils FIVE bold new electric SUVS - which could come to the UK | Move Electric". moveelectric.com. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  43. ^ "In brief: More than 200 horses in a sports bag – the electric drive in the Volkswagen ID.3" (Press release). Wolfsburg: Volkswagen Newsroom. 14 November 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  44. ^ "VW reveals first details of new MEB drive system APP550". electrive.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  45. ^ "Magna launches production for ID.4 drive system in China". electrive.com. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  46. ^ a b "Volkswagen Konzern - AR 20 - Volkswagen Passenger Cars". annualreport2020.volkswagenag.com. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  47. ^ a b "Volkswagen Passenger Cars". Volkswagen Group Annual Report 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  48. ^ "Volkswagen Passenger Cars". Volkswagen Group Annual Report 2023. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  49. ^ "EV-Volumes - The Electric Vehicle World Sales Database". www.ev-volumes.com. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  50. ^ Gitlin, Jonathan M. (14 July 2021). "VW Group's 10-year plan: A single EV platform across all its brands". Ars Technica. Retrieved 15 July 2021.
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