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.
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[update], 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)
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
Rear axle
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]