[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”de-highlights” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-49px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row module_class=”de-highlights” _builder_version=”4.19.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-75px|auto||auto||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”-56px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.18.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_text_color=”#000000″ min_height=”78.3px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
\n
Volkswagen is again debating whether to build its core volume models on China-developed software instead of Rivian\u2019s. VW brand chief Thomas Sch\u00e4fer wants the CEA architecture for about three-quarters of the next VW, \u0160koda and Cupra generation, including the ID.Golf, ID.Passat, Enyaq and the Tiguan family. His team expects savings of \u20ac4\u20135 billion, and at least \u20ac3 billion even if VW keeps funding the Rivian joint venture. A developer hour at Rivian\u2019s JV costs about four times as much as at VW\u2019s Hefei center VCTC. The CEA is already in series production, while Rivian\u2019s software is not expected to be ready for the full SSP generation before the end of 2028.<\/p>\n
The pressure comes from the top. The supervisory board wants the Core brand group to improve earnings by more than \u20ac12 billion and cut investment by almost \u20ac15 billion by 2030. The current plan splits the world into China plus export markets on CEA and Europe plus the US on Rivian. Sch\u00e4fer wants to move that line so it separates North America from everyone else.<\/p>\n
VW developed the CEA from an XPeng base and, according to the company, owns the IP. The board turned down Sch\u00e4fer\u2019s first attempt. Audi CEO Gernot D\u00f6llner still backs Rivian, and critics doubt that adapting the CEA to EU rules will be cheap. CFO Arno Antlitz is seen as the swing vote.<\/p>\n
What does this mean for VW and the other players?<\/em> A yes would show that a Western OEM can use China as its development base, rather than just a market, while keeping its own IP. That is a different model from Stellantis buying technology from Leapmotor. It would also concede that VW\u2019s two earlier software bets, CARIAD and now Rivian, could not deliver at volume-segment cost. The cost logic is strong, but so is the political exposure. North America is already excluded, and Europe could tighten its rules on Chinese-origin vehicle software. VW would also have to run at least two next-generation architectures in parallel, which erodes part of the savings. Either way, Rivian risks losing its largest volume customer, and every European OEM will have to justify why its next software stack still costs four times as much.<\/p>\n \n \n \n