Next-generation Volkswagen ID.Buzz is coming, and it will be cheaper
Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer says the second-generation ID.Buzz will be offered at a lower price thanks to a new platform and more affordable batteries.
The Volkswagen ID.Buzz, a modern take on the legendary Type 2 microbus, has won a large fan base with its nostalgic design. But that enthusiasm has not translated into strong sales, particularly in the U.S. Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer concedes the model is too expensive and says that will change with the second generation.
Two steps to cut costs
Speaking to Auto Express at the Paris Motor Show, Schäfer stressed that the new ID.Buzz needs to be more affordable and offered hints at how that will be achieved. The first step is the Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), which will underpin the Volkswagen Group's next-generation models, both electric and combustion-powered. Schäfer also signaled that lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which are cheaper to produce than current packs, could be used.
The design, however, has yet to be settled. Volkswagen design chief Andreas Mindt pointed to the New Beetle as a reminder that customers can tire of retro designs over time. Mindt said that whether the team sticks with the classic lines or heads in a different direction, the new ID.Buzz will be "interesting."
Volkswagen has paused U.S. sales of the ID.Buzz for the 2026 and 2027 model years. The model is expected to return to that market for the 2028 model year.
This article was compiled with the help of AI from information published by Car and Driver.
