Volkswagen and Ford have agreed to a worldwide Alliance – but first of all on the division of the light commercial vehicles limited. Starting in 2022, the corporations want to begin to jointly develop Transporter-and medium-sized Pick-ups, such as Volkswagen group chief Herbert Diess and the chief of the U.S. rival Jim Hackett said.
Both companies hope that their collaboration improved from 2023 on its operating result. To examine a possible cooperation on electro-mobility, Autonomous driving cars and mobility services. A because of the cooperation with VW Hackett not expected to be removal.
Some experts see alliances of major car manufacturers such as VW and Ford as a benchmark for the entire industry. The industry is in the face of slim profit margins and high investment under increasing pressure to combine forces. In particular, the change to newer technologies such as electric drives or robotic car is so expensive that he can make new alliances are necessary.
Diess, said that in view of the change of the entire industry, it makes sense to share investments and to combine innovation forces. For him, a cooperation of Autonomous, was To be crucial: “From the point of view of Volkswagen in cooperation with an American company in this area would be very useful,” said Diess.
The brands remain separate
the aim of the partnership is to save, in the development and construction of light commercial vehicles cost. According to the assessment of This, both producers are in the Segment too small to be able to worldwide play a big role. A mutual participation in capital of the two companies he castle.
both companies have sold in 2018, a total of approximately 1.2 million light-duty vehicles. Thus, the new Alliance would be according to VW, the industry’s highest-volume, cooperation in the Segment. Hackett and Diess stressed the jointly-developed vehicles should go under separate brands. According to the VW bosses could arise in the Ford factory in Turkey, as common vehicles.
Ford to develop for both companies, mid-sized Pick-ups and build, expected in 2022 on the market. Ford Manager Jim Farley said, the only vehicles for South America, Africa and Europe. In addition, Ford for the European market to develop larger vans and. Volkswagen will bring both partners a city delivery van on the market.
