The upcoming VW Golf electric vehicle will utilize Rivian’s electric platform | Carscoops

      The latest Rivian architecture will significantly decrease the quantity of control units necessary for future VW models.

      VW is committing $5.8 billion to a partnership with Rivian to utilize its electric architecture. The forthcoming all-electric Golf will be based on the group's adaptable SSP platform featuring 800-volt technology.

      This new model will be manufactured in Germany, while production of the internal combustion engine Golf will be relocated to Mexico.

      We are just a few years from the launch of the next-generation VW Golf, which has been confirmed to utilize the innovative software architecture that VW is co-developing with Rivian. The new Golf is anticipated to debut in 2029 and, as always, will be a significant model for the brand, offered solely as an electric vehicle and sold alongside the existing Mk8 Golf.

      The VW Group has promised $5.8 billion to its collaboration with Rivian in developing new electric architecture for upcoming models from both manufacturers. This new system will reduce the complexity of current VW technologies and significantly lessen the number of required control units. Additionally, it incorporates a zonal architecture, providing increased flexibility for VW.

      The first vehicle to feature this new architecture will be the electric ID.1, followed by the Mk9 Golf, possibly called the ID. Golf. VW's technical chief, Kai Grünitz, noted that starting with the ID.1 “reduces the risk for the Golf,” as the base EV will have fewer functionalities than the Golf, allowing VW to troubleshoot any issues. Over-the-air updates will be a crucial aspect of this architecture.

      “The advantage of the zonal architecture is that I can incorporate one, two, or three zones into a vehicle,” Grünitz explained to Autocar. “Lower-priced vehicles may require just one zone, while a luxury vehicle could need three or four, depending on its features. A dedicated system-on-chip (SoC) family can be utilized for each model. For the ID.1, I can implement a more affordable and less complex SoC, but when it comes to the Golf, I can opt for a higher-cost SoC that provides additional functionalities. However, the software remains the same.”

      The next-generation VW Golf will be built on the group's adaptable SSP platform, featuring an 800-volt architecture and a new cell-to-pack battery design. VW will produce the new Golf at its facility in Wolfsburg, Germany, while shifting the production of the current Mk8 Golf to a plant in Puebla, Mexico.