VW and Ford team up on trucks, with joint deals on EVs and self-driving cars likely to follow

DETROIT - Volkswagen AG and Ford Motor Co. said on Tuesday they will join forces on commercial vans and pickups and are exploring joint development of electric and self-driving technology in moves meant to save the automakers billions of dollars. Ford and VW announced their partnership against the backdrop of the Detroit auto show. The tie-up, which starts with sales of vans and medium-sized pickups in 2022, will not involve a merger or equity stakes, the companies said. "It is no secret that our industry is undergoing fundamental change, resulting from widespread electrification, ever stricter emission regulation, digitization, the shift towards autonomous driving, and not least the changing customer preferences," Volkswagen Chief Executive Herbert Diess told reporters and analysts on a conference call. "Carmakers around the globe therefore are investing heavily to align their portfolios to future needs and accelerate their innovation cycles," he added.