Thanks Tagor
Regardless of what the current TH is about and who it involves, what the Volksawagong group are doing is very very interesting. Especially in terms of integrating battery manufacturing into their 'in house' operation.
If the info provided in the 'chat is accurate, then bagging Volkswagon as a client would have a lot of potential. Moreso than other EVs perhaps.
In any ase here are some extracts of the 'chat'............................................................
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Volkswagen is heavily investing in electrification and digitalization, committing around €120 billion by 2028. Much of this is going towards developing new electric models and a scalable systems platform (SSP) to replace the current MEB and PPE platforms. However, they are facing slower-than-expected progress, particularly with their battery subsidiary, PowerCo. The slow ramp-up of battery production could affect partnerships reliant on these technologieselectrive.com
In the extract, here's what the key terms mean:
Scalable Systems Platform (SSP): Volkswagen’s new platform architecture intended to support all future electric models across its brands, replacing current platforms. It allows for scalability, meaning the same basic design can be used for a variety of vehicles, from compact cars to luxury models, improving efficiency and cost management.
MEB (Modular Electric Drive Matrix): VW’s current electric vehicle platform, used in mid-range models like the ID series.
PPE (Premium Platform Electric): A more advanced platform for high-end models, co-developed with Audi and Porsche, offering enhanced performance and features compared to MEB.
By transitioning to the SSP, VW aims to consolidate these platforms into a single, more flexible one that could better serve both lower and higher-end electric vehicles.
PowerCo, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, focuses on battery production, cell development, and supply chain integration. It’s part of Volkswagen’s strategy to vertically integrate battery manufacturing. PowerCo aims to produce unified cells for VW's electric vehicles (EVs) across brands and plans to establish multiple gigafactories by 2030.
In contrast, Mercedes-Benz and BMW do not have their own dedicated battery subsidiaries. Instead, they collaborate with leading battery manufacturers such as CATL, LG Energy Solution, and Northvolt, focusing more on partnerships for sourcing batteries rather than internal production.
PowerCo was omitted from previous tables because it primarily serves as an internal Volkswagen entity for battery development and planning rather than acting as an independent battery supplier or manufacturer for external clients.
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I highlighted and italicised the last sentence because I was wondering why PowerCo wasn't cited in the previous 'chat tables'. Hope that makes sense.
Cheers
(20min delay)