Volkswagen Group MEB platform

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

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. Ford plans to build MEB cars by 2023.[13]

Applications

Production vehicles

As of 2023, 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)

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

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

Sales to other manufacturers

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.[34]

Ford

In late 2018, the companies announced talks about the sharing of technology.[35] 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[36]

Fisker (cancelled)

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.[37][38] 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.[39]

Mahindra

Mahindra announced in late 2022 that they intend to use MEB components for Mahindra's upcoming EV platform named "Inglo".[40] Mahindra planned to launch five vehicles based on the Inglo.[41]

Electric motors

APP 310

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).[42]

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

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 has the same size as the APP 310. According to a press release the efficiency has been increased through an improved inverter.[43]

Optional Front axle

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.[44]

Production numbers
Model 2019[45] 2020[45] 2021[46] 2022[46] Total
Volkswagen ID.3 50 64,259 73,738 83,432 221,479
Volkswagen ID.4/5 - 6,487 134,319 207,934 348,740
Škoda Enyaq iV - 939 49,811 57,213 107,963
Audi Q4 e-tron - - 27,519 58,764 86,283
Volkswagen ID.6 - - 20,461 38,846 59,307
Cupra Born - - 4,801 36,153 40,954
Audi Q5 e-tron - - 99 3,113 3,212
Volkswagen ID. Buzz - - - 11,013 11,013
Ford Explorer EV - - - - 0
Annual 50 71,685 310,748 496,468 878,951

Global market share
2019 2020 2021 2022
MEB production 50 71,685 310,748 496,468
Global BEV Sales[47] 1,692,000 2,270,800 4,805,280 7,681,060
market share 0.00% 3.16% 6.47% 6.46%

See also

References
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