Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) has resumed operations at its main Hanover plant following a three-week summer break. The plant is now set to produce additional variants of the ID. Buzz starting in the second half of the year.
During the production hiatus, approximately 5,000 employees from VWCV and external partners undertook over 20 major projects and 800 individual measures to upgrade the facility. Key changes include transitioning to a solitary production mode, where the ID. Buzz and the T7 Multivan will be assembled on separate lines. Previously, the plant had produced three models, including the T6.1, on two lines.
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Felix Bockholt, Head of Vehicle Construction at the VWN plant, noted, “We have reorganised the cycles in the assembly lines for the new driving style, relocated work areas with robots and other machines, and integrated new and modern technologies into the factory. Now we are ready for the additional derivatives of ID. Buzz and Multivan, which will start up here in the second half of the year.”
The ID. Buzz with a long wheelbase and up to seven seats has been in production since July. This variant features a 25-centimeter extended wheelbase, reaching a length of 4.96 meters, and uses the 210 kW APP0550 engine. It is equipped with an 86 kWh battery, offering a WLTP range of up to 487 kilometers. The short wheelbase version has a 79 kWh battery with a maximum WLTP range of 461 kilometers.
The ID. Buzz GTX, which will include all-wheel drive and a more powerful battery, is expected later this year. The Hanover plant is also expanding its export of the ID. Buzz to international markets, including North America. A variant with a smaller 62 kWh battery was also announced but does not yet have a production start date.
Bockholt mentioned that the shift to solitary production and the cessation of the T6.1 had been planned for a year. Approximately 3,200 production employees are currently undergoing training related to the changes. “The training programmes have been running for several months and, like the conversion measures, have been planned for a year,” he said.
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