Typically it’s onerous to maintain up with the information from Volkswagen, with all of the twists and turns in company governance which have occurred previously few months. Every week in the past, we reported {that a} refreshed ID.3 is coming subsequent spring. Only a day in the past, we introduced our readers information about how the corporate is planning an MEB+ electrical automotive platform it mentioned would serve the wants of just about all electrical automobiles from Volkswagen Group.
That gave the impression to be a repudiation of the SSP chassis being developed whereas Herbert Diess was in cost and a touch that the so-called Trinity venture was being positioned on the again burner. Shortly after that story was revealed, Volkswagen issued but one other press launch that places SSP and Trinity again within the image, albeit considerably belatedly.
Volkswagen now says it should make investments €460 million in the principle manufacturing facility in Wolfsburg by the start of 2025. That funding can be used primarily to make the mandatory preparations to provide the brand new ID.3. Restricted manufacturing will begin in 2023, with full manufacturing slated from 2024.
Right here’s the attention-grabbing half. Volkswagen now says that after full manufacturing of the up to date ID.3 is achieved, there can be “an extra all-electric mannequin for the booming SUV phase to spice up Wolfsburg’s capability utilization for EV manufacturing over the long run. The technical foundation for the brand new mannequin is the Modular Electrical Drive System. Volkswagen’s e-car platform is to endure substantial additional growth because the MEB+, thus turning into much more environment friendly.”
Now maintain onto your hats, folks. The Wolfsburg manufacturing facility will, actually, be the place the place automobiles spawned by the Trinity venture are produced, and they are going to be based mostly on the SSP platform. And when will that be? By the top of 2033 on the newest, when Volkswagen expects to be manufacturing solely electrical automobiles.
Chatting with staff just lately, Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen model, mentioned: “Volkswagen stands for electromobility for everybody. And Wolfsburg can be a part of this success story. Right here at our most important plant alone, we can be investing some €460 million by the start of 2025, getting the manufacturing facility prepared for the MEB.
“The ID.3 ramp-up is the primary essential step in direction of the electrification of our most important plant. On the similar time, we’re working carefully with the Works Council to convey an extra electrical mannequin based mostly on the MEB+ to Wolfsburg. This can be a excessive quantity mannequin for the booming SUV phase. With these sturdy selections and investments, we intend to bolster the competitiveness of this manufacturing facility additional and provides the workforce a concrete long run perspective.”
Works Council Chair Daniela Cavallo mentioned, “Wolfsburg stands for the long run. And the Works Council has a transparent ambition for the Wolfsburg web site — cutting-edge manufacturing, the very best workforce, and the most important pioneering spirit. Meaning Wolfsburg will stay the model’s — and the Group’s — powerhouse within the coming years with the transformation to electrical manufacturing, a further all-electric mannequin by 2026, together with Trinity and the SSP. We’ll develop the detailed timetable collectively. That’s how we’re creating safe jobs. I might additionally wish to thank the whole manufacturing staff at our most important manufacturing facility that has weathered many a disaster on this troublesome yr.”
Revamping The Wolfsburg Volkswagen Manufacturing unit
Step one in direction of the manufacturing facility’s electrical automotive future includes re-equipping the positioning for the ID.3, the corporate says. That automotive will start leaving the meeting line in Wolfsburg beginning in 2023. It can proceed to be manufactured in Zwickau as nicely. For the Wolfsburg manufacturing facility, which is the biggest manufacturing facility within the Volkswagen Group, this would be the first electrical car based mostly on the MEB platform.
Model CEO Thomas Schäfer indicated there are plans to provide an electrical SUV based mostly on the MEB structure on the Wolfsburg manufacturing facility sooner or later. “That’s the largest car phase worldwide, it’s dwelling to our common Tiguan. The brand new mannequin would ideally complement our bestselling ID.4 and ID.5. That is how we intend to increase our market place additional and provides our clients the top quality automobiles they count on from us,” he mentioned.
“The MEB nonetheless has important potential. Our ambition is to take this platform to the following degree. To that finish, we’re making substantial investments in advancing this know-how. The MEB+ places us in a superb place for the approaching years.” The MEB+ will allow quicker charging speeds and longer vary. Volkswagen plans to make use of the extremely standardized unified cell manufactured on the Group’s personal cell manufacturing facility in Salzgitter, which is slated to start manufacturing in 2025.
With its Speed up program, Volkswagen launched a robust model technique for the electrical and digital period of mobility. It says its Energize program provides this technique an extra enhance and is designed to make the Volkswagen model shine. “The lodestar of the technique stays the Trinity car venture based mostly on the extremely scalable SSP platform. The venture will get underway in keeping with staggered software program growth. A call on the place the car can be in-built Wolfsburg has not but been taken. That’s the reason Volkswagen is maintaining the choice to construct a brand new manufacturing facility in Warmenau open.”
Oh, ho! So Diess’ dream of a brand new, fashionable, tremendous environment friendly manufacturing facility in Wolfsburg will not be lifeless. Moribund is perhaps a greater phrase for it.
The Takeaway
In case you are having problem maintaining with all of the twists, turns, and reversals in course at Volkswagen since Herbert Diess was pushed overboard and Oliver Blume took the reins, you’re not alone. The modifications are coming so thick and quick that it looks as if somebody is — or a number of someones are — whispering in Blume’s ear, telling him what he ought to or shouldn’t do. Don’t neglect that the Porsche and Piech households nonetheless personal a controlling curiosity in Volkswagen and their highest precedence will not be spending cash, it’s getting cash. The German state of Decrease Saxony is also a big shareholder and desires to see the roles of its inhabitants protected.
Job One at Volkswagen will not be bringing out new SUVs or creating new platforms; it is determining the software program mess that has affected its electrical automobiles from Day One and continues to this very second. Except and till is will get that corrected, it could possibly construct all the electrical automobiles it needs however may have problem convincing folks to purchase them.
Is that every one the information from Volkswagen for this month? Don’t wager on in. Oliver Blume continues to be getting his bearings in his new place. But when there may be extra information from Wolfsburg, we are going to share it with you as quickly because it arrives on the CleanTechnica 24 hour, 7 day per week international communications middle.
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