Things are changing fast in the car world as we move towards a future of hybrids, EVs, and potentially even hydrogen. With that change comes a change in how we use cars and even buy cars. Volkswagen is a brand looking to the future thanks to their new flagship model, which has been codenamed Project Trinity. A report from British publication Autocar says the project will spearhead the brand's next set of bespoke electric cars and details how it will change the way cars are sold.
One Of The First Cars On VW's New Platform
Project Trinity will be one of the first cars in the VW Group's range to use the VW Groups' new Scalable Systems Platform, while also introducing new digital technology and software systems to the brand's lineup along with upgraded battery technology to offer a longer range. The Trinity is not going to replace the ID range but will serve as a way to introduce that new technology into VW’s lineup. Self-driving is expected to be a big part of the makeup of the new car, and prices will start in the 35,000 euro range.
The SSP architecture is set to become used for around 80% of the VW Groups range and the hope is it will be useable in a wider range of vehicles than its MEB or PPE platforms. In terms of how the car will be used, it will be sold in just a standardized form. Following that, customers are able to choose upgrades and options to unlock through software updates. These options will be available to buy and then will be downloaded and applied via those software updates. This is a significant departure from how we currently buy cars and their various options.
Options Will Be Available From Multiple Outlets
These options can be bought via the Volkswagen smartphone app, the infotainment system, or the website of the car. The purchase will be a one-off fee that stays with the customer as long as they use the car, or via a rent option that will follow a ‘pay-per-use format. The features are to be locked to the owner of the car. So if a used Trinity is sold on and then that new owner wants an option, they will have to purchase it themselves and thus creating continuous income for Volkswagen.
Sources: Autocar, Volkswagen, Linkedin