Volkswagen Group plans to share new PPE platform with rivals – report

If the Volkswagen Group has its way, its new electric platforms won’t just be proliferating throughout their own corporate range – they’ll be proliferating through rival automakers’ line-ups, too.

Bloomberg reports the German giant is in discussions with other automakers to share with them its upcoming, all-electric 'PPE' platform.

The PPE platform has been designed to underpin electric Audis and Porsches, with the first PPE-based model due to launch in 2021. Audi has already previewed a future PPE-based model.

Ulrich Widmann, head of PPE development at Audi, said: “There’s definitely interest. We’re having conversations. Sharing technology to generate scale effects is the only way to achieve the turnaround in electric cars, both economically and ecologically”.

Widmann didn’t say which manufacturers have expressed interest in sharing the PPE platform. Given the price point at which PPE cars will sell, it’s likely only luxury and sports car manufacturers that would be interested.

Above: 2020 Volkswagen ID.3

It’s no secret the Volkswagen Group is investing big in electric vehicles, a necessary move as European emissions regulations tighten and demand increases. But while EV sales are growing, in the first six months of this year they still only accounted for 1.7 per cent of new car sales globally.

Therefore, even a corporate behemoth with a menagerie of brands like the VW Group must work hard to economies of scale and try to recoup development costs.

It’s not the only EV platform-sharing the VW Group is doing. Although Ford’s already developing its own EV platform, the American automaker announced earlier this year it’ll be borrowing Volkswagen’s MEB platform for a high-volume EV for the European market.

In addition to the MEB and PPE platforms, the Volkswagen Group also has the 'J1' platform which underpins the Porsche Taycan and upcoming Audi e-tron GT.

Additionally, Audi uses a modified MLB Evo platform for its e-tron crossover. There are also electric versions of the Volkswagen Golf and Up! called the e-Golf and e-Up!, respectively, though these models likely won't be renewed for another generation due to the company's focus on its upcoming all-electric I.D. family. The latter has also recently been re-badged as the Skoda Citigo E and the Seat e-Mii.

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