When Volkswagen showed a commitment to moving toward EV models and the development of an electric platform for the production we want, the thought was these vehicles would be produced in the US.
The fact is, the company stated these models would be produced in North America, which allows the VW plant in Mexico to also be a potential location for the production of the EV lineup of vehicles from this brand. This brings a certain amount of boardroom discussions as each of the two plant leaders is fighting for the right to build these new models and add jobs to their locations.
Why wouldn’t Volkswagen simply add a new plant to build the EV models? Because EV models are so much different from the gasoline-powered versions it seems like it might make sense to have an entirely new plant that could be the place to build these new models, but the team at Volkswagen have already figured out this challenge and have made it possible to have the EV models built alongside the other versions of the cars and SUVs that are produced to wear the VW badge on the front of the vehicle.
The Logistical Side
When its time to begin to produce the EV models that we’ll see for the future of the VW brand, the most important reason to have the production done at one of the two current plants is the ability to share a paint and body shop with the other models. This is one way the brand can save some money and avoid adding an entirely new plant, which would require many more employees than it would to simply add the EV lines to the vehicles that are being built for sale on the market.
Another way Volkswagen has made it easier to ad EV models to the current plants is by developing the platform that will be used for these models. The I.D. models will be built using the MEB platform which is extremely close to the MQB platform. The MEB platform is effectively a large rectangle that has batteries in the middle while wheels and electric motors are placed at either end of the underpinning. This is the platform being used for the I.D. Buzz and will also be used for the I.D. Crozz which will be the first car in the US that uses this platform for the drive.
The hope, at least for the US plant, is that the production will be offered and executed in the US and not in Mexico. With the I.D. Crozz on its way, the argument for the US plant as the production location could be strong. We’ll know more as the decision is made and the materials and items needed to get these vehicles built start to head to whichever plant is awarded the rights and the privilege of building the new EV models that will wear the VW logo on the front of the vehicles built.
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