Volkswagen Delays the Release of the ID Buzz until 2023

The new release date of the VW ID Buzz EV microbus will be by the year 2022 while it will make its way to the U.S. market by the year 2023 according to Volkswagen of America CEO Scott Keogh.

What causes this delay is said to likely be due to the need to retool the VW’s Hanover, Germany factory in order to be able to produce the Bizz as well as a separate electric commercial van.

The ID Buzz EV microbus was unveiled back in 20217 however the release date is now scheduled until the year 2022 and in the United States by 2023 according to official statements from the company’s CEO.

The news was released by the company’s American divisional boss during an interview with Automotive News where he stated that he “wish it was coming next year” Keogh said.

“It’s not going to come quite as soon as that; it’s going to be a little bit later than that.” he added confirming the speculations about the delays pertaining to the EV microbus.

As stated earlier, one of the key reasons for the delay is due to the VW’s Hanover, Germany plant which isn’t equipped yet unlike the Zwickau, Germany electric vehicle plant where the ID 3 compact hatchback and ID 4 crossover are being built.

The Hanover plant is where commercial vehicles are being produced but would require being retooled in order to be able to use the plant for the production of the ID Buzz as well as the company’s commercial electric van which are both expected to go on sale in Germany by 2022 while Americans will get their own variant a year later.

These EV vehicles are based on the VW’s MEB (Modular electric vehicle) platform which is the company’s push for electrification.

Part of that strategy is the launch of the ID.4 crossover as a 2021 model in the U.S. market. That’s a smart move considering the growth of the small-SUV segment and the automaker’s desire to have an EV with mass appeal as it attempts to persuade U.S. customers into battery-powered vehicles.

With the delay, there is still a big excitement around the ID Buzz due to its interesting Nostalgia and new appetite for vans which is the target customers for the microbus.

And that anticipation hasn’t been lost on Keogh. The CEO mentioned that he receives texts from dealers (both VW and non-VW) about the ID.Buzz, saying, “The reaction’s been huge, and we just got to get it here.”