Magna launched electric drive systems in Shanghai for VW Group’s EVs

Canadian auto supplier Magna International launched output of electric drive systems last week in a newly built plant in Shanghai for Volkswagen Group’s next-generation EVs to be built in Europe and China.

Covering a ground area of 66,000 square meters (710,000 square feet), the factory is owned with its joint venture established in 2017 with Huayu Automotive Systems Co., Magna said.

The plant, with products including gears, inverters and electric motors, will start delivering electric drive systems in the second half of 2020 for multiple EV models VW is set to assemble in Europe and China for the VW and Audi brands.

These vehicles will be based on VW’s MEB platform, according to Huayu, a Shanghai-based auto parts supplier majority owned by SAIC Motor Corp.

MEB is a vehicle platform VW has developed specifically for its new-generation EVs.

Magna, based near Toronto, ranks No. 3 on the Automotive News list of the top 100 global suppliers with worldwide sales to automakers of $40.83 billion in 2018.