The 2024 Volkswagen ID. Buzz is getting at least three different variants to cater to everything from commercial to personal needs. Automotive News Europe reports that there are at least three flavors coming. Europe will get a six-passenger version targeted at “ride-pooling” services features individually accessible rear seats complete with an information screen for each passenger. The U.S. will get a variant tailored specifically for ride-hailing, targeting customers that are traveling alone or in small groups. This version will only have seating for four passengers, two facing forward and two facing rearward. A cargo version will be the third addition aimed at delivery companies to meet the demands of the growth of online shopping.
Christian Senger, head of development for autonomous driving at Volkswagen, said that a self-driving ID. Buzz Cargo wouldn’t need a human driver anymore. “Our answer is autonomous delivery vans for the distribution networks of tomorrow, where delivery workers no longer need driver’s licenses and become passengers who focus on their loads and the order of deliveries,” he said to the media during Volkswagen’s Strategy 2030 presentation back on July 13. In five of the largest European markets, Volkswagen is expecting €70 billion or $82.6 billion in revenue by 2030 to come strictly from mobility services. The automaker will select mobility solutions in certain markets by 2025 and sees a lot of profitability potential on services like ride-sharing and autonomous delivery.
The Volkswagen ID. Buzz will arrive in the U.S. as a 2024 model, a year after it goes on sale in Europe. It will ride on the same MEB architecture as the ID.3 and ID.4. That should give it the same cool, futuristic looks as its hatchback and crossover sibling and retain most of the design cues found on the concept car. Configurability should be one of the highlights of the ID. Buzz thanks to the flat floor. This means Volkswagen can easily offer multiple layouts for the van beyond the conventional multi-row passenger or a cargo setup. It’s possible that Volkswagen can easily make that lounge-like layout as found in the concept shown a few years ago, making it a viable choice for services like Lyft and Uber. The cargo configuration, on the other hand, could easily complement commercial services as a city-focused delivery vehicle.
When the ID. Buzz arrives in North America, expect it to come in single- or dual-motor configurations. The former should retain the same 201 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque output as the rear-drive ID.4 while the latter will likely get the 295-hp combined rating. However, expect only the larger 111-kWh battery to make the journey across the Atlantic because the smaller 48-kWh unit will likely not offer enough range for American consumers. Volkswagen is expecting the ID. Buzz to get a 340-mile rating from the WLTP, which should be higher than the more conservative EPA cycle.
Since it’s on the MEB platform, expect the 2024 Volkswagen ID. Buzz to feature peak charging rates of up to 125 kW. However, there’s a possibility that could be raised to counter the larger battery being used for the van. The ID.4 currently charges from 5 to 80 percent in roughly 40 minutes. Charging times could be longer in the ID. Buzz due to the larger battery pack. Volkswagen’s new infotainment system, which features a 10.0- or 12.0-inch touch screen should also find its way into the ID. Buzz and we’re hoping it’s a little easier to use.
