“New VW” Includes Connected Vehicles, Flat-Battery Architecture

Volkswagen AG is creating a new business unit called “New Volkswagen” that will focus on developing connected vehicle technologies and advanced mobility systems. The company also is moving forward with plans to create a dedicated platform for electrified vehicles that will enable the use of a flat battery configuration.

The company is detailing the programs to employees today in its Insight internal newspaper, Bloomberg reports. The news agency says it obtained a transcript of an interview with Herbert Diess, VW’s brand chief, and Bernd Osterloh, the company’s top labor union representative, that will appear in the publication.

Diess characterized the flat-battery technology as a “breakthrough” for VW. Other companies such as BMW, Nissan and Tesla already use flat battery systems, which enable improved packaging under a vehicle’s floor, in their dedicated EVs.

VW announced plans in October for a new modular electric toolkit but didn’t say when the architecture would be ready. The company will unveil its latest technololgies in a new concept vehicle next month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.