Volkswagen Delays Trinity BEV Again

Volkswagen has once again postponed production of the first in its next generation of electric-powered models, according to Germany’s Handelsblatt.

Known internally as Project Trinity, the Tesla Model Y-rivaling crossover was originally due to be launched in 2026 as the first of a wide range of Volkswagen Group models based on the company’s new Scalable Systems Platform (SSP).

However, ongoing delays in the development of software for the platform and its power electronics system has reportedly forced Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume to delay the launch of the new model until 2032.

A report by the German business and financial newspaper Handelsblatt says, “The delay is part of cost-saving measures and also results from ongoing software issues.”

News of the latest delay in the introduction of Project Trinity and VW’s SSP comes while the German automaker’s EV sales in its largest market, China, are stalling.

Volkswagen brand CEO Thomas Schäfer confirmed last year that Project Trinity would be delayed from 2026 to 2028 as part of efforts to further fine-tune the SSP, which is planned to support an 800V architecture and Level 4 autonomous driving capability.

VW originally announced its intention to develop the new platform in 2021, when the company was headed by former CEO Herbert Diess.

Conceived to replace both the Modular Electric Toolkit (MEB), Premium Platform Electric (PPE) and J1 electric-vehicle structures in use today, the SSP delay is said to also affect the launch timing of other crucial VW models, including a successor to the ID.4 and a planned electric version of the Tiguan.  

The delay in the introduction of models based on the SSP comes after similar delays with the new Porsche Macan and Audi Q6 e-tron, both based on the PPE platform.

VW’s in-house division, Cariad, was initially tasked with software development. However, continual delays have seen the German automaker commission a number of third-party software developers to contribute to expediting development of electric models.

WardsAuto can confirm VW has instigated a major in-house program aimed at identifying possibilities for greater parts and software sharing between its various platforms.

As part of efforts to bolster its electric-vehicle platform and software expertise, the company recently announced it was investing up to $5 billion in U.S.-based EV start-up Rivian.The investment, spread over a three-year period, includes an agreement to form a 50:50 joint venture operation, details of which are yet to be made official.