In 2017, VW’s U.S. sales are up 5.9 percent in an auto market where overall sales are down 2.9 percent. While Volkswagen’s numbers may sound impressive, the brand is far from where it was when the automaker was caught rigging the emissions of diesel models.
Which raises the question: Can I.D. Buzz generate the kind of buzz Volkswagen could desperately use?
There is no doubt VW Microbus fans will cheer the news, but the I.D. Buzz comes at a time when vans are falling in popularity. In addition, the I.D. Buzz won’t hit the street for another five years and by then what we drive and ride in could be dramatically different. Autonomous-drive vehicles, ride-sharing and robo-taxis could change how many of us get around.
Still, Volkswagen’s Diess believes the all-electric I.D. Buzz will strike a chord with buyers who want more functionality and utility. Diess says mounting the van’s batteries in the floor, along with electric drive components taking up less room, will give the I.D. Buzz plenty of space.
“The vehicle looks like a compact commercial van on the outside, even though it offers the generous interior space of a large SUV,” Diess explained.
