Volkswagen to make electric “Trinity” Passat-sized wagon at new $A3bn factory

German carmaker Volkswagen has announced it will make an all-electric Passat-sized wagon at a new 2 billion euro ($A3 billion) factory in Wolfsburg near its existing Tiguan and Golf factory.

Aiming to counter Tesla’s long-armed reach on the EV market as it commences production of the Model Y in Berlin this month, Volkswagen says it will begin making the Trinity factory in early 2023, and commence vehicle production in 2026.

First unveiled in early 2021, the Trinity will offer a 700km range (WLTP), and come “technically ready” for Level 4 self-driving – which does not require human interaction while driving – though the specifics of its actual implementation are unclear.

There were no further details about vehicle specifications – including whether it will, as its name suggests, include a tri-motor configuration .

But key to its position as a Tesla rival will be simpler production methods as the German carmaker seeks to build each car from start to finish in 10 hours, using “fewer variants, fewer components, more automation, leaner production lines and new logistic concepts.”

Underpinning the streamlined production methods will be a new CO2-neutral “SSP super platform” designed by Volkswagen that will replace the carmaker’s modular MEB platform used in its ID series and other electric cars made by Skoda, Seat Audi and Porsche.

VW brand chief Ralf Brandstatter told European media in November that the new factory will output 250,000 EVs a year. The new factory will also guide the conversion of all Volkswagen plants to the SSP platform and in time, the carmaker says it will build 40 million vehicles on the new platform.

However, the reasoning behind the new greenfield site is so that the carmaker can continue making “important models” including the Tiguan and Tayron SUV, and a Golf refresh in years to come, and as the company prepares to then transform its existing Wolfsburg premises to also make the ID.3 from 2023.