SSP (Scalable Systems Platform)
SSP is Volkswagen Group's future group-wide electric vehicle architecture. Its rollout is now expected toward the end of the decade.
The Scalable Systems Platform (SSP) is Volkswagen Group’s planned next-generation architecture for battery-electric, software-defined vehicles. It is intended to consolidate technologies currently spread across platforms such as MEB and PPE and to support vehicles from several Group brands and segments.
Timeline update: early Volkswagen Group presentations targeted an initial SSP launch in 2026. The current roadmap instead describes SSP-based vehicles as arriving toward the end of the decade. The previously announced Artemis, Trinity, Audi Q8 e-tron and Audi A8 e-tron dates were not realized and are therefore not listed here as future production models.
Volkswagen Group's original SSP platform plan from 2021
Scope
SSP is designed as a scalable architecture rather than one fixed vehicle platform. Different track widths, wheelbases, power outputs and vehicle heights should allow the Group’s brands to build distinct models while sharing major hardware and software components.
Configuration possibilities shown in the original SSP presentation
Battery and drivetrain
Volkswagen Group has presented SSP with highly integrated battery packs, its unified-cell strategy and an electrical architecture intended to support fast charging. Complete production specifications, including voltage, battery capacities and charging performance, have not yet been confirmed for an Audi SSP model.
Volkswagen unified cell concept
Software-defined vehicle architecture
Software is a central part of the SSP programme. Volkswagen Group and Rivian Automotive formed the joint venture Rivian and VW Group Technology to develop a zonal electronic architecture and vehicle software. Volkswagen Group says this technology will be used in future SSP vehicles, with reference vehicles from Volkswagen, Audi and Scout included in development testing.
The aim is to centralize vehicle functions in a smaller number of powerful computers and support continuing over-the-air updates. Exact functions will depend on each production model and market.
Historical material
The images and presentation below document Volkswagen Group’s strategy as presented in July 2021. They are useful background, but their dates and model assumptions are no longer current.
Watch the 2021 SSP presentation by former Audi chairman Markus Duesmann.