It’s been a little over four years since Volkswagen announced SSP, its all-encompassing electric vehicle architecture. The Scalable Systems Platform was originally expected to be ready by now, but it has been delayed until later this decade. Multiple reports from German media attributed the setback to VW’s software division, Cariad. However, the automotive conglomerate is now ready to discuss SSP, and there’s a surprise.
Although SSP is primarily an electric platform, it will also support combustion engines. VW Group plans to introduce range extenders, with internal combustion engines functioning solely as generators to charge the battery. Like the BMW i3, Mazda’s rotary MX-30, and the upcoming Ramcharger, these engines won’t have a mechanical link to the wheels. Nissan’s e-Power technology follows a similar principle: the gasoline engine powers the battery, not the drivetrain.
Photo by: Volkswagen
Volkswagen had already indicated its interest in range extenders. Its newly established Scout brand will launch a pickup and an SUV equipped with naturally aspirated ICE generators. In China, the recently unveiled ID. Era concept previews a three-row SUV developed with SAIC, also featuring a gasoline-powered generator.
SSP is a major initiative for VW. It will serve as the foundation for models across all its brands and will eventually replace all existing electric platforms. A teaser image shows five different body styles, ranging from a city hatchback to a large SUV. Automotive News reports that there will be eight derivatives in total, covering every segment of the market. Next-generation EVs based on SSP are expected to begin rolling out in 2026, likely debuting in China before arriving in Europe a year later.
We may not see this technology in Europe, where VW CEO Thomas Schäfer believes plug-in hybrids are the more viable option. He told Autocar that range extenders are expensive to engineer, while today’s plug-in hybrids already offer decent electric range and fast charging. According to Schäfer, offering both solutions wouldn’t be economically feasible.
Photo by: Volkswagen
One of the most significant models to use the SSP platform will be the ninth-generation, electric-only Golf. It’s scheduled to arrive near the end of the decade and will coexist with the combustion-engine Mk8 for several years. VW may keep the current Golf on sale until the mid-2030s. The electric Golf will be built in Wolfsburg, while production of the ICE model will move to the Puebla plant in Mexico in 2027.
With SSP’s key specifications now finalized, VW Group CEO Oliver Blume stated: “We aim to be the global technology driver for the automotive industry. SSP will play a crucial role in this. We’ve reached an important milestone in developing our electric future platform. Now it’s full steam ahead to implementation.”
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Source: Volkswagen Group