Volkswagen‘s all-electric ID. Buzz people mover and ID. Buzz Cargo van are proving quite popular as they’re already sold out for months in Europe, before customer deliveries even start.
According to Automotive News Europe, Volkswagen has now amassed 10,000 orders for its ID. Buzz electric vehicle (EV) – or two-thirds of the 15,000 vehicles it reportedly planned to build this year.
Norway reportedly accounts for around a third of total orders with 3400 in total.
Germany reportedly follows with 2500 ID. Buzz pre-orders. A further 1100 orders reportedly came from the Netherlands and 1000 from Belgium.
It’s unclear where the remaining 2000 pre-orders for the ID. Buzz originated from.
The pre-order information surfaced thanks to a leaked email, seen by Automobilwoche, from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle head of sales Lars Krause to employees at Volkswagen’s product plant in Hanover, Germany where the ID. Buzz is built.
“10,000 orders, without the car actually being at the dealer, let alone a customer having driven it,” said Dr Krause. “That is just impressive.”
“I am very pleased that the ID. Buzz and the ID. Buzz Cargo are already selling so well. We are, after all, still in the launch phase, before the market launch.”
“Pre-sales have not even started yet in France and the UK.”
Series production of the ID. Buzz started back in May ahead of first customer deliveries in October.
The German automaker is reportedly planning to ramp up ID. Buzz annual production to 60,000 examples in 2023, and at a later date up to 130,000.
This ultimately means even though the ID. Buzz might be sold out in Europe for now, it shouldn’t be for too long.
While it’ll be offered in markets like North America, Volkswagen has yet to lock in launch timing for the ID. Buzz for Australia – though it’s high up on the wish list.
Volkswagen Group Australia has maintained the delayed launch of its first VW-branded electric vehicles here is in part due to demand in other markets and a lack of emissions standards here, pushing us down the priority queue.
We’ll be waiting until late 2024 at the earliest to the see the ID. Buzz and its ID. Buzz Cargo van counterpart in Australia.
“We’re constantly talking to not only local government, but fleet customers about what our future looks like for electric vehicles, because it’s in high demand, they want to move that way sooner [rather] than later,” said Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Australia brand director Ryan Davies recently.
“ID. Cargo is firmly on our radar as well as ID. Buzz, [but] probably the earliest we could anticipate selling it is late 2024.
“We have big aspirations in terms of volume for that car, so we are confident that we’re going to get it. With what we have put on the table, with what we can achieve here from a volume perspective, we think the factory would be pretty happy with that appetite.”
Pitched as a spiritual successor to the original Kombi, the ID. Buzz is built in the same factory as the T6.1-generation Volkswagen Transporter and its derivatives which include the Multivan, Caravelle and California.
The MEB-based ID. Buzz and Cargo use a 82kWh battery and a 150kW/310Nm rear electric motor, with a claimed range of 423km (WLTP), and DC fast-charging speeds of up to 170kW.
Pricing for the ID. Buzz in Germany starts at €54,270 ($A79,322) for the base Pro, or €64,581 ($A94,393) including value added tax (VAT).
These prices are before the German Government EV subsidy of €6000 ($A8769).
The ID. Buzz Cargo commercial van is cheaper, naturally – €45,740 ($A66,855) excluding VAT, or €54,430 ($A79,556) including the tax.
Volkswagen globally has focused on selling its ID. EV range (ID. 3 hatch; the ID.4, ID.5 and ID.6 crossovers; and now the ID. Buzz and Cargo range) in Europe, China and North America first, where demand and incentives are greater.
In a similar story to the ID. Buzz, Australia won’t be receiving the ID.4 and ID.5 crossovers until late 2023 at the earliest, despite them being on sale already in other markets.
Over the next few years the electric van space in Australia will grow considerable, with the introduction of the second-generation Renault Kangoo EV, Ford E-Transit and E-Transit Custom, and the Mercedes-Benz eVito, EQV and eSprinter.
MORE: 2022 Volkswagen ID. Buzz series production starts
MORE: Volkswagen ID. Buzz and Cargo EV vans in high Australian demand
MORE: Volkswagen ID. Buzz: Retro EV hits Europe with premium pricing
