German automaker Volkswagen is set to significantly increase production of its all-electric ID.Buzz van, targeting a substantial ramp-up in output as it prepares for a US launch later this year.
First unveiled in March 2022, the ID.Buzz marks Volkswagen’s modern take on the beloved Microbus, a vehicle known for its iconic design and association with counterculture movements of the past. The electric variant, equipped with a larger 91 kWh battery for enhanced performance, is tailored specifically for the US market with a three-row configuration.
See also: Volkswagen Partners with Wrapmate to Launch Online Customization Tool for ID. Buzz Owners
Lars Krause, executive vice president of sales and marketing at VW Commercial Vehicles, expressed optimism about the ID.Buzz’s prospects, particularly with the introduction of new variants like the extended wheelbase model and the GTX edition. Krause indicated that Volkswagen plans to more than double production from last year’s 35,000 units to over 100,000 in the near future.
“In the second half of the year, we want to build twice as many ID.Buzz as in the same period last year,” Krause stated in an interview with German publication Automobilwoche. The company’s decision to phase out the T6.1 model will further streamline production, focusing efforts on the Multivan and the ID.Buzz at its Hanover facility.
See also: Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz Electric Van in America Offers Three Trims and Up to 335 HP
With plans to expand into new markets and bolster capacity utilization, Volkswagen aims to position the ID.Buzz as a cornerstone of its global lineup, potentially reaching six-digit production figures over time. The introduction of an entry-level variant with a smaller 62 kWh battery underscores VW’s strategy to meet diverse market demands, although pricing details for this model remain unspecified.
Deliveries of the ID.Buzz are slated to commence in the US in the coming months, while European markets will also receive the long wheelbase version. Volkswagen anticipates pricing for the ID.Buzz to start above $50,000 in the US and €64,600 ($69,000) in Germany, including VAT.
See also: Volkswagen Unveils ID. Buzz GTX: A Sporty, All-Wheel Drive Electric Van
