Audi And Porsche’s EV Platform To Spawn Three Model Families

Audi and Porsche have released new details about their joint platform for electric vehicles.

Dubbed the “Premium Platform Electric (PPE),” the architecture has been in development for approximately ten months and Audi says it is expected to spawn “three model families.” Audi is leading the development on two projects and both will include vehicles for Audi and Porsche. Porsche is in charge of the third project but the companies aren’t saying much about it.

Specifics are lacking but the architecture will allow Audi and Porsche to “optimally exploit the advantages of the purely electric vehicle – including the package, wheelbase and spaciousness, to name a few examples.” The companies also noted the architecture is flexible and can underpin “high-floor and low-floor vehicles” such as crossovers and sedans.

The first models based on the PPE architecture are scheduled to be unveiled in late 2021. Despite sharing the same architecture, Audi chairman Rupert Stadler said “Both companies see the need to maintain clearly differentiated, brand-specific product characteristics as the highest priority.” He went on to say “Audi is taking advantage of the opportunities to create an unmistakable look in the areas of design, vehicle interiors and user interface.”

Approximately 550 Audi and 300 Porsche employees are working on the project and Porsche CEO Oliver Blume noted “If we had to tackle the challenges ahead on our own, the costs would be around 30 percent higher.”

While automakers have been trying to reduce the number of architectures they use, the PPE will exist alongside the cost-effective modular electrification platform (MEB) and “two further developed conventional architectures.” Interestingly, Audi hinted at another possible platform as the company mentioned “ideas for sporty models.”

Note: Audi Aicon concept pictured