Volkswagen and Ford are holding a press conference today in order to announce the expansion of their global alliance.
The two car makers will release full details on their new agreement, with both VW CEO Herbert Diess and Ford CEO Jim Hackett being present. The deal is expected to include the common use of EV platforms and autonomous-driving technologies, with reports suggesting that Ford will license VW’s MEB architecture and VW will invest into Argo AI, the self-driving company where Ford holds the majority.
Also Read: Ford Slated To Receive VW’s MEB Platform For Electric Vehicles
Argo AI is part of Ford Autonomous Vehicles LLC and VW is willing to help share the increasing costs of developing the technology.
In return, Ford will get access to VW’s MEB architecture, an EV-specific platform designed to spawn mass-market EVs for Europe, US and China. VW says that the MEB is even more scalable than its MQB architecture, which currently underpins the majority of its ICE-powered vehicles.
The first model to use the MEB platform is going to be the new VW ID.3, which is slated for a full reveal at the upcoming Frankfurt Motor Show this September.
This deeper collaboration between VW and Ford has been in the making for quite some time now, as the two automakers were looking for ways to share development costs with regards to EVs and autonomous driving technologies. Also, back in March, VW agreed to co-develop the next-gen Amarok pickup truck alongside Ford.
The press conference will air today, July 12, at 8 a.m. EST, so stay tuned.