Rivian to help VW develop next-gen Golf hatchback

The ninth-generation VW Golf is expected to arrive only around 2029.

According to media reports, Volkswagen will be taking the help of Rivian to develop the next-generation iteration of the brand's most popular hatchback, Golf.

The news comes after Volkswagen and Rivian recently announced a joint venture worth $5.8 billion. Reports state that the next-gen Volkswagen Golf will be exclusively electric and be based on the brand's SSP (scalable Systems Platform) architecture. The VW-Rivian joint venture will engineer electric architecture and software for next-generation cars, with the Golf Mk9 being one of the early adopters.

Volkswagen head, Thomas Schafer even confirmed the collaboration, stating, "We decided on how to do the software-defined vehicle. It will happen with Rivian, the joint venture, where we put the new electric electronics architecture together. But we have also decided that we want to start this journey with a more iconic product. So we'll start with the Golf."

Having said that the ninth-generation VW Golf is expected to arrive only around 2029. Reports also state that while the new-gen Golf will be EV-only, VW could continue offering the Golf Mk8 with its petrol, diesel and plug-in hybrid powertrain options up until 2035.

Reports also state that the Golf Mk9 won't be the first product from the VW-Rvian JV. Instead, Audi & Porsche will lead the way with their cars arriving sometime in 2027. The architecture and software technology developed by the joint venture is said to be compatible with "all relevant vehicle segments".

Source: AutomotiveNews