The Volkswagen Group MQB platform is the company's strategy for shared

modular design Modular design, or modularity in design, is a design principle that subdivides a system into smaller parts called ''modules'' (such as modular process skids), which can be independently created, modified, replaced, or exchanged with other modules ...

construction of its

transverse Transverse may refer to: *Transverse engine, an engine in which the crankshaft is oriented side-to-side relative to the wheels of the vehicle *Transverse flute, a flute that is held horizontally * Transverse force (or ''Euler force''), the tangen ...

front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout In automotive design, a front-engine, front-wheel-drive (FWD) layout, or FF layout, places both the internal combustion engine and driven roadwheels at the front of the vehicle. Usage implications Historically, this designation was used reg ...

(optional

front-engine, four-wheel-drive layout In automotive design, an F4, or front-engine, four-wheel drive (4WD) layout places the internal combustion engine at the front of the vehicle and drives all four roadwheels. This layout is typically chosen for better control on many surfaces, a ...

) automobiles. It was first introduced in the

Volkswagen Golf Mk7 The Volkswagen Golf (Mk7) is a small family car (C-segment) produced by German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen, as the seventh generation of the Golf and the successor to the Golf Mk6. It was introduced in Berlin on 4 September 2012, before a ...

in late 2012. Volkswagen spent roughly $8bn developing this new platform and the cars employing it. The platform underpins a wide range of cars from the supermini class to the mid size SUV class. MQB allows Volkswagen to assemble any of its cars based on this platform across all of its MQB ready factories. This allows the Volkswagen group flexibility to shift production as needed between its different factories. Beginning in 2012,

Volkswagen Group Volkswagen AG (), known internationally as the Volkswagen Group, is a German multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Wolfsburg, Lower Saxony, Germany. The company designs, manufactures and distributes passenger and commercial ...

marketed the strategy under the code name MQB, which stands for ''Modularer Querbaukasten'', translating from German to "Modular Transversal Toolkit" or "Modular Transverse Matrix". MQB is one strategy within VW's overall MB (Modularer Baukasten or modular matrix) program which also includes the similar

MLB Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...

strategy for vehicles with longitudinal engine orientation. MQB is not a platform as such, but, rather, a system for introducing rationality to different platforms that have transverse engines, regardless of the ten body configurations the company manufactures for any of its eleven vehicle brands. Thus MQB coordinates a core "matrix" of components across a wide variety of platforms — for example, sharing a common engine-mounting core for ''all'' drivetrains (e.g., gasoline, diesel, natural gas, hybrid and purely electric), as well as reducing weight. The concept allows different models to be manufactured at the same plant, further saving cost. Ulrich Hackenberg, chief of Volkswagen’s Research and Development (Head of Audi Development until 2015), called MB a "strategic weapon."

Press comments

British magazine ''

Car A car or automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of ''cars'' say that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people instead of goods. The year 1886 is regarded as ...

'' said "the idea heralds a return to basic principles of mass production in an industry where over the last 100 years, complexity has spiralled out of control. By creating a standardised, interchangeable set of parts from which to build a variety of cars, (the company) plans to cut the time taken to build a car by 30%." The car blog ''

Jalopnik G/O Media Inc. is an American media holding company that runs ''Gizmodo'', ''Kotaku'', ''Jalopnik'', ''Deadspin'', ''Lifehacker'', ''Jezebel'', ''The Root'', ''The A.V. Club'', ''The Takeout'', ''The Onion'', and ''The Inventory''. History G ...

'' said "The biggest feature is the uniform position of all motors and transmissions" and that "by fitting all motors into the same place (the company) hope(s) to cut down on engineering costs and weight/complexity when porting the car over to other models." Around 60% of the development costs occur between gas pedal and front wheels, including the engine.

MQB-based models

MQB models range from

supermini The B-segment is the second smallest of the European segments for passenger cars between the A-segment and C-segment, and commonly described as "small cars". The B-segment is the largest segment in Europe by volume, accounting for 20 percent of ...

s to

large family car The D-segment is the 4th category of the Euro Car Segment, European segments for passenger cars, and is described as "large cars". It is equivalent to the Euro NCAP "large family car" size class, and the present-day definition of the mid-size ...

s. The MQB architecture replaces the PQ25,

PQ35 The Volkswagen Group A platform is an automobile platform shared among compact and mid-size cars of the Volkswagen Group. It debuted in 1974 and was originally based on the engineering concept of the Volkswagen Golf Mk1, and is applicable to ...

and PQ46 platforms. All MQB cars will share the same front axle, pedal box and engine positioning, despite varying

wheelbase In both road and rail vehicles, the wheelbase is the horizontal distance between the centers of the front and rear wheels. For road vehicles with more than two axles (e.g. some trucks), the wheelbase is the distance between the steering (front ...

, track and external dimensions.

First generation MQB (2012)

The "first-generation" MQB platform underpins various vehicles from

C-segment The C-segment is the 3rd category of the European segments for passenger cars and is described as "medium cars". It is equivalent to the Euro NCAP "small family car" size class, and the compact car category in the United States. In 2011, the C- ...

upwards. * Audi A3 Mk3 (2013–2020) *

Audi Q2 The Audi Q2 is a subcompact luxury crossover SUV developed and manufactured by Audi. It was first unveiled to the public on 1 March 2016 at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show and built on Volkswagen Group's MQB A1 platform as the Mk7 series Volkswagen ...

(2016–present) * Audi TT Mk3 (2014–present) * SEAT León Mk3 (2012–2020) * Škoda Octavia Mk3 (2012–2020) * Škoda Superb Mk3 (B8) (2015–present) * Volkswagen Arteon/CC (2017–present) * Volkswagen Atlas/Teramont (2017–present) ** Atlas Cross Sport/Teramont X (2019–present) *

(2012–2020) *

Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan The Volkswagen Golf (Mk7) is a small family car (C-segment) produced by German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen, as the seventh generation of the Golf and the successor to the Golf Mk6. It was introduced in Berlin on 4 September 2012, before a ...

(2014–2020) *

Volkswagen Lamando The Volkswagen Lamando () is a compact sedan manufactured by Volkswagen through its joint venture SAIC Volkswagen in China. It debuted at the Chengdu Auto Show in August 2014 and was launched in China in November 2014. The Lamando is positioned ...

(2014–2022) * Volkswagen Passat/Magotan (B8) (2014–present) *

Volkswagen Passat The Volkswagen Passat is a series of D-segment, large family cars manufactured and marketed by the Germany, German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen since 1973, and now in its eighth generation. It has been marketed variously as the Dasher, Sa ...

(China only) (2018–present) *Volkswagen Polo Mk5 (6C) (2015-present) * Volkswagen Touran Mk2 (2015–present) File:Audi A3 Sportback 2.0 TDI Ambiente (8V) – Frontansicht, 16. März 2014, Düsseldorf.jpg,

Audi A3 The Audi A3 is a subcompact executive/small family car (C-segment) manufactured and marketed by the German automaker Audi AG since September 1996, currently in its fourth generation. The first two generations of the Audi A3 were based on the ...

File:2017 Audi Q2 Sport TDi 1.6 Front.jpg,

File:Seat Leon 1.4 TSI Start&Stop Style (III) – Frontansicht, 10. August 2013, Ratingen.jpg,

SEAT León The SEAT León (), also spelled Leon in some other languages (named after the city of León, which also means "Lion" in Spanish), is a hatchback compact car built by the Spanish car manufacturer SEAT since October 1999.ETKA The first two León ...

File:Skoda Octavia 1.8 TSI Green tec Elegance (III) – Frontansicht, 14. April 2013, Düsseldorf.jpg,

Škoda Octavia The Škoda Octavia is a small family car produced by the Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto since the end of 1996. It shares its name with an earlier model produced between 1959 and 1971. Four generations of the modern-era Octavia model have ...

File:2019 Skoda Superb SE L Executive TDi 2.0 Front.jpg,

Škoda Superb The Škoda Superb is a large family car that has been produced by the Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto since 2001. The first generation of the modern Superb, produced from 2001 to 2008, was based on the VW B5 PL45+ platform. The second gener ...

File:2021 Volkswagen Atlas (2).jpg,

Volkswagen Atlas The Volkswagen Atlas is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen since 2017. Developed mainly for the North American and Chinese market, the vehicle is based on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform. Outside the US and ...

File:VW Golf 1.6 TDI BlueMotion Trendline (VII) – Frontansicht, 5. Juli 2014, Düsseldorf.jpg,

Volkswagen Golf The Volkswagen Golf () is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) produced by the German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen since 1974, marketed worldwide across eight generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates ...

File:2018 Volkswagen Touran 1.6.jpg,

Volkswagen Touran The Volkswagen Touran is a car manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen since 2003 and sold in Europe and other select markets. A compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV), it fills a gap in Volkswagen's model lineup between the Volkswagen Golf, wi ...

File:2017 Volkswagen Passat SE Business TDi BM 2.0.jpg,

Second generation MQB (MQB Ax; 2016)

The "second-generation" MQB debuted in 2016, which also introduces three different types of the platform grouped by size/segment. The introduction of the MQB A0 category enables the platform to be used on smaller and cheaper vehicles in the

B-segment The B-segment is the second smallest of the European segments for passenger cars between the A-segment and C-segment, and commonly described as "small cars". The B-segment is the largest segment in Europe by volume, accounting for 20 percent of ...

MQB A0

* Audi A1 Mk2 (2018–present) *

SEAT Arona The SEAT Arona is a subcompact crossover SUV (B-segment) manufactured by SEAT since 2017. It is the smallest crossover SUV offered by the Spanish brand. It slots in below the Ateca compact model and Tarraco seven-seater. Overview Between 2 ...

(2017–present) * SEAT Ibiza Mk5 (2017–present) * Škoda Kamiq (global) (2019–present) *

Škoda Scala The Škoda Scala is a small family car or compact hatchback manufactured by Czech automaker Škoda Auto. The car is intended to fit between the Fabia and the Octavia, and to be a competitor to the cars in the C-segment hatchback segment. The Sc ...

(2019–present) * Škoda Fabia Mk4 (2021–present) * Volkswagen Nivus/Taigo (2020–present) * Volkswagen Polo Mk6 (2017–present) * Volkswagen T-Cross/Tacqua (2019–present) *

Volkswagen Virtus The Volkswagen Virtus is a subcompact sedan (B-segment) manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen since 2018. It is based on the Polo Mk6 with an extended wheelbase and the same Volkswagen Group MQB A0 platform, which it also closely shar ...

(2018–present) File:Audi A1 (2018) IMG 2611.jpg,

Audi A1 The Audi A1 (internally designated ''Typ 8X'') is a supermini car launched by Audi at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show. Sales of the initial three-door A1 model started in Germany in August 2010, with the United Kingdom following in November 2010. A ...

File:2017 SEAT Arona FR TSi 1.0 Front.jpg,

File:Skoda Scala IMG 2515.jpg,

File:Volkswagen Taigo IMG 5773.jpg,

Volkswagen Taigo The Volkswagen Taigo is a subcompact crossover SUV ( B-segment) with a sloping roofline manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen. The vehicle was first released as the Volkswagen Nivus, which was unveiled in May 2020 in Brazil. It has been ...

File:2018 Volkswagen Polo R-Line TSi 1.0 Front.jpg,

Volkswagen Polo The Volkswagen Polo is a supermini car (B-segment) produced by the German car manufacturer Volkswagen since 1975. It is sold in Europe and other markets worldwide in hatchback, saloon, and estate variants throughout its production run. History ...

File:2019 Volkswagen T-Cross First Edition TSi 1.0.jpg,

Volkswagen T-Cross The Volkswagen T-Cross is a subcompact crossover SUV (B-segment) manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen. It is based on the MQB A0 platform shared with the Polo Mk6, and was officially launched in April 2019. Positioned below the T-Roc ...

= MQB A0 IN

= A low-cost variation of the A0 platform for the Indian market was introduced in 2019 and utilized for vehicles released from 2021. *

Škoda Kushaq The Škoda Kushaq is a subcompact crossover SUV ( B-segment) manufactured by the Czech automaker Škoda Auto in India since 2021. The vehicle is heavily based on the Volkswagen T-Cross and its derivative for the Indian market, the Volkswagen Taig ...

(2021–present) *

Škoda Slavia The Škoda Slavia is a subcompact sedan (B-segment) manufactured by Škoda primarily for the Indian market. It was introduced in November 2021 and will be produced in 2022. Built on the MQB A0 IN platform adapted for India, the vehicle is based ...

(2021–present) * Volkswagen Taigun/T-Cross (2021–present) * Volkswagen Virtus/Polo Sedan (2022–present)

MQB A1

Jetta VS5 The Jetta VS5 is a compact crossover SUV jointly developed by FAW Group and Volkswagen Group for its China-exclusive brand, Jetta, and mainly manufactured by FAW-Volkswagen, a joint venture between the two companies since 2019. Overview The Jet ...

(2019–present) *

SEAT Ateca The SEAT Ateca is a compact crossover SUV (C-segment) manufactured by Spanish automaker SEAT. The brand's first SUV offering, the Ateca is built on the Volkswagen Group MQB A1 platform and sits in the C-SUV segment, between the Arona and Tarra ...

(2016–present) *

Škoda Karoq The Škoda Karoq is a compact crossover SUV (C-segment) designed and built by the Czech car manufacturer Škoda Auto. Introduced in 2017, the vehicle is based on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform, and replaced the Škoda Yeti. The car slots between ...

(2017–present) * Volkswagen Bora Mk4 (2018–present) * Volkswagen Jetta/Sagitar/Vento Mk7 (2018–present) * Volkswagen Lavida Mk3 (2018–present) *

Volkswagen T-Roc The Volkswagen T-Roc is a subcompact crossover SUV (B-segment) manufactured by German automaker Volkswagen since 2017. It is based on the Volkswagen Group MQB A1 platform, and positioned between the Tiguan and the slightly smaller T-Cross. Ov ...

(2017–present) ** T-Roc Cabriolet (2020–present) *

Volkswagen Taos The Volkswagen Taos is a compact crossover SUV produced by the German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen. It was first released in October 2018 as the Volkswagen Tharu in China, while the Taos was released in October 2020 as a restyled version of ...

/ Tharu (2018–present) File:Jetta VS5 004.jpg,

File:2017 SEAT Ateca Xcellence 1.4 Front.jpg,

File:2018 Skoda Karoq Edition TDi SCR 4X4 2.0 Front.jpg,

File:2019 Volkswagen Jetta 1.4L front 3.22.19.jpg,

Volkswagen Jetta The Volkswagen Jetta () is a compact car/small family car manufactured and marketed by Volkswagen since 1979. Positioned to fill a sedan niche above the firm's Golf hatchback, it has been marketed over seven generations, variously as the Atlant ...

File:2018 Volkswagen T-Roc SE TSi EVO 1.5 Front.jpg,

File:2022 Volkswagen Taos 1.5T SE in Cornflower Blue, front left.jpg,

MQB A2

* Audi Q3 Mk2 (2018–present) ** Audi Q3 Sportback (2019–present) *

Jetta VS7 The Jetta VS7 is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by FAW-Volkswagen for its China-exclusive brand, Jetta. Overview The Jetta VS7 was first presented at the Auto Shanghai in April 2019, coinciding with the launch of the newly established br ...

(2020–present) *

SEAT Tarraco The SEAT Tarraco is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by Spanish automaker SEAT. It is the flagship SUV of the Spanish car maker above the SEAT Arona and the SEAT Ateca, optionally available with seven seats. It is based on the Volkswagen Grou ...

(2018–present) *

Škoda Kodiaq The Škoda Kodiaq is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured by the Czech automaker Škoda Auto since 2016. The vehicle sits in Škoda's D-SUV, above the Škoda Kamiq and Škoda Karoq. The vehicle is based on the Volkswagen Group MQB platform, shar ...

(2016–present) ** Kodiaq GT (2018–present) *

Volkswagen Tayron The Volkswagen Tayron () is a compact crossover SUV produced by FAW-Volkswagen. Overview The Tayron was presented as a near production concept named VW Advanced Midsize SUV during the premiere of the Volkswagen Touareg III in March 2018. At t ...

(2018–present) ** Tayron X (2020–present) * Volkswagen Tiguan Mk2 (2016–present) ** Tiguan Allspace/L (2017–present) ** Tiguan X (2020–present) *

Volkswagen Viloran The Volkswagen Viloran () is a minivan produced by SAIC-Volkswagen since 2020. It is the largest vehicle built on the MQB platform. Overview The Volkswagen Viloran was unveiled at the 2019 Guangzhou Auto Show, and went on sale in China in Apri ...

(2020–present) File:2019 Audi Q3 S Line 35 TFSi 1.5.jpg,

Audi Q3 The Audi Q3 is a subcompact luxury crossover SUV made by Audi. The Q3 has a transverse-mounted front engine, and entered production in 2011. __TOC__ First generation (Typ 8U; 2011) Concept Vehicle: Audi Cross Coupé quattro (2007) Designed ...

File:2018 Skoda Kodiaq Scout TDi SCR 4X4 2.0 Front.jpg,

File:2018 FAW-Volkswagen Tayron 380 TSI (front).jpg,

File:VW Tiguan Life (II, Facelift) – f 03012021.jpg,

Volkswagen Tiguan The Volkswagen Tiguan () is a car produced by German manufacturer Volkswagen since 2007, sitting between the smaller T-Roc and the larger Touareg in the company's crossover SUV range. The first generation is based on the PQ46 platform, while t ...

File:2019 Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace R-Line TDi 4Motion 2.0.jpg,

Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace The Volkswagen Tiguan () is a car produced by German manufacturer Volkswagen since 2007, sitting between the smaller Volkswagen T-Roc, T-Roc and the larger Volkswagen Touareg, Touareg in the company's crossover SUV range. The first generation is ...

File:Volkswagen Viloran 004 (cropped).jpg,

MQB Evo (2019)

* Audi A3 Mk4 (2020–present) *

Audi Q6 The Audi Q6 is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV with three-row seating produced by Audi Audi AG () is a German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. As a subsidiary of its parent company ...

(2022–present) * SEAT León Mk4 (2020–present) * Škoda Octavia Mk4 (2020–present) * Volkswagen Caddy Mk4 (2020–present) *

Volkswagen Golf Mk8 The Volkswagen Golf (Mk8) (also known as the Golf VIII) is a compact car, the eighth generation of the Volkswagen Golf and the successor to the Volkswagen Golf Mk7. It was launched in Wolfsburg on 24 October 2019, and arrived in German showrooms ...

(2019–present) *

Volkswagen Talagon The Volkswagen Talagon () is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen through FAW-Volkswagen FAW-Volkswagen Automobile Co., Ltd. is a joint venture between FAW Group and Volkswagen Group ...

(2021–present) *

Volkswagen Tavendor The Volkswagen Tavendor () is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating manufactured by the German automaker Volkswagen through FAW-Volkswagen joint venture in China since 2022. It is positioned between the larger Talagon and the smaller T ...

(2022–present) * Volkswagen Transporter (T7) (2022—present) *

Cupra Formentor The Cupra Formentor is a compact crossover SUV (C-segment) manufactured by the Spanish car manufacturer SEAT under their Cupra performance-oriented sub-brand. Marketed as a coupé SUV, it is the first car designed specifically for the sub-brand. ...

(2021–present) * Ford Tourneo Connect/Transit Connect Mk3 (2022–present) * Volkswagen Lamando L (2022–present) File:2020 Audi A3 S Line Edition 1 35 TD 2.0.jpg,

File:Cupra Formentor Frontansicht.jpg,

File:VW Caddy V 16.08.21 JM (2).jpg,

Volkswagen Caddy The Volkswagen Caddy is a panel van and leisure activity vehicle (M-segment) produced by the German automaker Volkswagen Group since 1980. It is sold in Europe and in other markets around the world. The Volkswagen Caddy was first introduced in Nor ...

File:SEAT Leon Mk4 IMG 2790.jpg, SEAT Leon File:Skoda Octavia IV Combi IMG 3910.jpg,

File:2020 Volkswagen Golf Style 1.5 Front.jpg,

References

* *

External links

Volkswagen Group corporate websiteAudi corporate website
{{DEFAULTSORT:MQB Volkswagen Group platforms