Volkswagen Group has completed the “architecture freeze” of its upcoming Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), a modular electric vehicle (EV) system intended to serve as the foundation for a broad range of future electric models across the Group, according to German publication Automobilwoche.
The architecture freeze, akin to a design freeze in vehicle development, marks the point where the fundamental technical and structural specifications of the platform have been finalized, setting the stage for supplier contracts and component sourcing. “The scope of services and the number of possible variants have been defined and backed up with economic key figures,” the report cited from Wolfsburg insiders.
The SSP is designed to be highly scalable, accommodating electric vehicles ranging from volume to premium segments, with up to eight distinct platform variants derived from the core system. Key features include the use of VW’s proprietary unit cell battery technology, an 800-volt electrical architecture, and enhanced flexibility aimed at simplifying production and reducing costs. The platform aims to reduce costs by around 20% compared to the current MEB and PPE electric platforms.
However, the platform’s development has experienced delays. Initially announced in 2021, the first SSP-based model was originally slated for a 2026 debut. Since then, leadership changes and revised timelines have pushed the anticipated launch to the end of the decade. VW brand head Thomas Schäfer recently indicated that the ninth-generation Golf, which will be based on SSP, is now expected “2028 at the earliest.”
Group CEO Oliver Blume has urged VW’s management to maintain strict adherence to the platform’s specifications to avoid past mistakes seen with the MEB and PPE platforms, which suffered from early software bugs and delayed launches. At an internal meeting, Blume reportedly “swore in around 150 participants to the SSP” and emphasized that “Volkswagen could no longer afford to make mistakes with the SSP.”
The first SSP model for the European market is expected to debut in 2027 and reach customers by 2028. Possible candidates include a compact model such as an electric Golf or T-Roc, or alternatively an electric successor to the Audi A3 based on the SSP.
The platform’s rollout will involve contracts with both internal production facilities — notably the Kassel plant for drive unit components — and external suppliers. Finalization of specific model roadmaps and platform variants is expected by spring 2026 to enable binding supply agreements.
The SSP is seen as a key part of Volkswagen’s strategy to unify its EV architecture, improve economies of scale, and lower production complexity as the company shifts towards an electric future.
Source: Automobilwoche