Report: VW, Ford near agreement to share EV platform

The automakers are also expected to collaborate on autonomous technology.

Ford and Volkswagen are reportedly closing in on a formal agreement to share electric vehicle architecture and collaborate on autonomous technologies.

The talks have reached an "outline agreement" that will be discussed by Volkswagen's supervisory board, according to Reuters.

The automakers have already finalized a partnership for commercial vehicles. The latest talks include a plan for Ford to use VW's MEB all-electric platform architecture.

"Our talks with Volkswagen continue. Discussions have been productive across a number of areas," Ford said in a statement. "We'll share updates as details become more firm."

If finalized, the deeper alliance will represent one of many partnerships among rival automakers that have decided to collaborate to hasten development and share costs of electric vehicles and self-driving technology.