Volkswagen on March 9 its long-awaited ID. will show a production version of the Buzz, an electric reincarnation of its beloved Microbus or Combi and plans to launch in the United States in late 2023, the company said on Friday.
ID.Buzz is one of the “most anticipated and most hyped” models, estimated Volkswagen Scott Keogh, Volkswagen’s head of North American operations, the brand since the company launched its new Beetle in the late 1990s, said during a media call.
Volkswagen Chief Executive Herbert Diess tweeted on Thursday, “The Legend returns on 03/09/22!” The tweet contained a sketch of the ID.Buzz van’s profile.
Volkswagen has shown several prototypes for a new Microbus over the past decade. But those former show vans – Budd.E and Bulli – never made it into production, much to the dismay of fans of the vehicle.
Keogh said a three-line version of the ID. Buzz will launch in the United States, where the original Microbus became a symbol of the counterculture in late 2023 or early 2024. Volkswagen will launch a two-row version in Europe.
Volkswagen has no plans to make an ID. Buzz at his American factory in Chattanooga.
“You want to get to 100,000 units before you localize,” Keogh said.
Volkswagen will ramp up production of its ID.4 electric SUV in Chattanooga this year.
Earlier on Friday, Volkswagen said US sales of its VW brand vehicles grew 15 percent in 2021, primarily driven by strong sales of gasoline-fueled SUVs like the Atlas and Tiguan.
Keogh said a lack of vehicles due to chip supply chain problems will continue to limit vehicle production and sales in the United States through 2022.
He said he believes at least two million potential car buyers will not buy vehicles in 2021 due to supply constraints, which led to a slump in demand this year and beyond.
© Thomson Reuters 2021
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