VW, Ford to cooperate
Global alliance announcement expected at Detroit show
HAMBURG/DETROIT: Volkswagen AG and Ford Motor Co will unveil a deeper alliance next week that goes beyond cooperating in commercial vehicles in a move meant to save the car makers billions of dollars as they develop new technologies, two people familiar with the plan said yesterday.
Ford and VW have been exploring closer cooperation as trade frictions force car makers to rethink where they build vehicles for Europe, the United States and China, and as software companies prepare to launch their own selfdriving cars.
‘‘A global alliance is expected to be announced,’’ one person said, adding that the pact will be unveiled next Wednesday, during the Detroit auto show. The companies have previously said any alliance would not involve a merger or equity stakes.
The expanding alliance highlights the growing pressure on all global car makers to manage the costs of developing electric and selfdriving vehicles, as well as technology required to meet tougher emissions standards for millions of internal combustion vehicles they will sell in the years to come.
Slowdowns in the world’s larg est vehicle markets — China and the United States — have ratcheted up the pressure to cut costs.
The scope of the alliance is still being determined, the people said, as talks about cooperation in the area of electric and autonomous cars continue. The sources asked not to be identified because the negotiations are ongoing.
‘‘Talks are going well,’’ the second person said.
The framework of the alliance would include the pooling of resources in autonomous technology and VW investing in that Ford business, and Ford licensing Volkswagen’s MEB electric vehicles platform, the person added.
When the commercial vehicle alliance is announced next week, the companies will also say they are close on deals covering the autonomous and electric vehicle businesses, the person said.
VW officials have talked about gaining access to Ford’s Transit commercial van and the Ranger midsized pickup truck, as well as building their vehicles in Ford plants.
Ford reiterated yesterday it has been talking with VW about potential collaborations in a number of areas.
‘‘It is premature to share additional details at this time,’’ Ford said in a statement. ‘‘We look forward to sharing an update soon.’’
VW had no immediate comment.
In June, Ford and VW unveiled a pact in commercial vehicles including vans, adding that they were investigating ‘‘several joint projects’’.
In December, VW chief executive Herbert Diess said, ‘‘We are in quite advanced negotiations and dialogue with Ford Corporation to really build up a global automotive alliance, which also would strengthen the American automotive industry.’’
At the time, Ford executive chairman Bill Ford jun told reporters that talks with Volkswagen about an alliance were going ‘‘very well’’.
Mr Diess has talked openly about the savings and greater efficiencies that Europe’s largest car maker hoped to achieve through the potential alliance. VW officials also have repeatedly emphasised the only way to make electric cars a massmarket product is through economies of scale to make them as affordable as diesel vehicles. — Reuters