Back in June of 2018, Ford and Volkswagen announced a “strategic alliance” to develop a line of commercial vehicles, and now rumor has it that it could also result in a new Ford Ranger and VW Amarok.
The news is based on a conversation that GoAuto had with Group Australia managing director Michael Bartsch, who, when asked about the possibility of the new Ranger and Amarok being developed together, wouldn’t deny it. “All options are being looked at,” he said. “All avenues are being explored. I think it would be disingenuous of me to say there is nothing going on with Ford, otherwise Ford wouldn’t be making the comments that they are making, but I am not in a position at the moment to say what it may or may not be.”
The new trucks wouldn’t arrive until around 2025 if this comes to fruition, as the Ranger and Amarok are both about to launch significantly updated models, although the platforms that support each truck are getting quite old.
Bartsch thinks a joint venture with Ford would help Volkswagen to reduce the base price of the Amarok, especially in Australia where it sells for more than its Japanese competition.
Rumors of Volkswagen coming to North America with a pickup truck have also been rampant ever since the brand rolled out the Tanoak truck concept at the 2018 New York Auto Show. This tie-up would likely make it easier for Volkswagen to bring its small pickup to North America.
The brands just have to make sure that the two trucks are distinguished from each other. “If there is a joint venture done, we would do a better job at differentiating the products between the two participants,” Bartsch said, speaking of the joint venture between Mercedes and Nissan for small pickups. “With all the respect I have for Mercedes … I personally think that brands with very definitive cultures and positions in the market be very careful about how they maintain that integrity.”
So while this certainly isn’t confirmation, it’s exciting to think that yet another small pickup could be joining the North American market. What do you think of a possible Volkswagen/Ford tie-up on a new Amarok and Ranger? Let us know in the comments below.
