German legacy automaker Volkswagen is gearing up to launch its next-gen electric vehicles in 2028. These upcoming EVs will ride on the cutting-edge Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), Electrive reports, citing the Chief Executive’s recent remarks.
SSP to replace current EV architecture
Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer confirmed during the VW Golf’s 50th anniversary celebration that the first SSP-based electric vehicles will hit the market in 2028.
As per the report, the upcoming SSP architecture will serve as a common replacement for the already existing MQB, MSB, and MLB ICE platforms, as well as the MEB and PPE EV platforms.
The German automotive group also asserted that the SSP will be a mechatronics platform, offering multiple versions for various segments.
The move is unsurprising, considering that the MEB-based EV models are not faring as well as the brand expected. For context, the group’s EV sales in the European market dropped by a notable 24% from January to March 2024.
This considered, it must avoid further delays with the launch of the SSP-based EVs.
First model expected to be an SUV
The VW boss omitted from sharing the official name or details about the first EV model that will debut on the new SSP architecture.
However, ex-VW Group CEO Herbert Diess hinted that the inaugural model will arrive as an electric SUV. It will undergo production at the company’s Zwickau factory in Germany, and an entire lineup of new models will follow suit. One of these upcoming models includes the next-gen Golf, which will also ride on the SSP and enter production at the Wolfsburg factory.
Apart from this detail, the German automaker has not yet revealed any key information about the next-gen models in the pipeline.
The first SSP-based EV is the product of the long-awaited Trinity project.
Launch pushed back from original 2026 target
In hindsight, Volkswagen initially planned to launch the new SSP architecture with a highly aerodynamic sedan in 2026.
However, it later changed plans to prioritize a more volume-focused SUV body style, prompting the German automaker to adjust the debut schedule to the end of the decade.
Now, CEO Schäfer has officially announced that the new debut timeline will be 2028.
The launch of the new SSP architecture and the EVs that will ride on it will play a crucial role in Volkswagen’s efforts to satisfy its investors amid its declining share price. Any delay could potentially diminish investors’ confidence further.
