VW is to invest $2.6 billion in Argo AI, an AV technology company backed by Ford.
The partners will integrate Argo AI’s self-driving system into purpose-built vehicles to support initiatives focused on moving people and goods.
As part of the deal, Ford is to use VW’s EV architecture and Modular Electric Toolkit - or MEB - to deliver zero-emission vehicles in Europe from 2023.
Ford is hoping to deliver more than 600,000 vehicles using the MEB architecture over six years, with a second Ford model.
VW CEO Dr. Herbert Diess says: “Scaling our MEB drives down development costs for zero-emissions vehicles, allowing for a broader and faster global adoption of EVs.”