Next generation Volkswagen cars will use MQB platform to reduce production cost significantly and help group companies to share parts and technology
Post Dieselgate, German automobile group Volkswagen is exploring various ways to reduce the production cost. In an attempt to do so, now the auto major is planning to underpin all its next generation cars with the Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) platform. This modular platform will be underpinning at least two more generation of cars from the brand.
Not only the VW models, but the other brands under the umbrella of the Volkswagen AG will also use this modular platform, which is already being used in several cars from the group. This way, the group companies will be able to share components and technology with each other, therefore significantly reducing the production cost.
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Speaking about the plan, Volkswagen brand chief Herbert Dieses has said, the group has been working on the cost side of the MQB platform and made significant progress. The modular platform comes with high technical substance, which enables the brand to use it for next two generation of cars without any further major investment. Developing the MQB platform has been one of the biggest operations from the German automaker, involving thousands of engineers and suppliers.
The platform has been in business since 2007 and the brand claims that till 2014, it sold more than 2 million vehicles around the world based on it. By next year, the target is to sell more than 7 million units. Also, Volkswagen claims, it will be able to reduce annual production cost by $4.1 billion by using this platform.
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The MQB platform has been developed in such manner, which lets it to be used in every segment from the Polo to the Passat. It helps Volkswagen AG to use the modular platform in various models regardless of size, brand and variant. Currently, models like the Volkswagen Tiguan, Audi A3, Audi Q7, Skoda Kodiaq, Skoda Superb, Skoda Octavia use this platform, clearly indicating the diversity of the MQB.