Volkswagen Group said its long-delayed electric vehicle architecture known as SSP (Scalable Systems Platform) will now include support for combustion engine-based range extenders, as it finalizes plans to roll out the all-new platform starting in 2026.
Originally unveiled in 2020, SSP was intended to unify Volkswagen’s EV development across brands and replace existing electric platforms such as MEB and PPE. However, development setbacks—largely linked to the company’s in-house software division, Cariad—have pushed the launch of SSP vehicles to later this decade.
In a strategic shift, the German automaker confirmed SSP will accommodate internal combustion engines used solely as power generators, similar to systems deployed in the BMW i3, Nissan’s e-Power models, and the upcoming Ramcharger. These engines are not connected to the drivetrain but serve to recharge the battery, extending range without direct mechanical propulsion.
The company’s U.S.-focused Scout brand will incorporate this range extender setup in its upcoming pickup and SUV models, while a recently revealed ID. Era concept in China also showcases the technology. SSP will eventually support eight model derivatives, ranging from compact hatchbacks to large SUVs, Automotive News reported, with initial models expected to debut in China, followed by Europe in 2027.
“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,” Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume said in a statement.
Still, executives remain divided on the role of range extenders in European markets. VW brand CEO Thomas Schäfer told Autocar the company sees plug-in hybrids as a more viable solution for the region due to cost and efficiency considerations, stating that it would be “economically unfeasible” to offer both technologies in parallel.
Among the flagship SSP-based models will be the ninth-generation Golf, an electric-only successor to the iconic compact, due by the end of the decade. While the EV version will be assembled in Wolfsburg, the current gasoline-powered Mk8 will remain on sale and move to Volkswagen’s plant in Puebla, Mexico, from 2027, with production potentially continuing into the mid-2030s.