VW Casts Doubt on I.D. Buzz’s Chances at Production

Early this year, Volkswagen revealed the electric I.D. Buzz and the coverage since then has been about the microbus lookalike’s chances of making it to dealer showrooms. And so far, the company has been bullish about the concept’s chances. Now, though, there’s inevitable doubt being cast on its chances.

“We have to be a little bit reasonable,” said Matthias Erb, Volkswagen of America’s Chief Engineering Officer, speaking at the New York International Auto Show. “Would we revive the MPV segment?”

Erb was referring to the fact that the van has been replaced by the SUV in the American imagination, so an electric van, no matter how nostalgic and charming, would be fighting against the tides of buyer preferences.

And despite Volkswagen’s conviction that the MEB platform will allow economies of scale to lower the price of developing electric cars, they won’t be reduced enough to allow for a flop.

Another concern, as Keith Martin of Sports Car Market points out, is whether or not the cultural fascination with mircobuses will last. Although prices are high now, the microbus market has historically been much more volatile than, say, the classic Beetle market. As a result, by the time the Buzz makes it to showrooms, it may be too late to cash in on the fad.

That said, Erb admits that he and the rest of the VW love the concept and want it to become a reality. The automotive media, too, has been supportive of it, so if there was ever a chance for VW to make a risky decision, this is it.

All of this uncertainty is reflected in VW’s plans for how it will release its electric vehicles. In North America it plans to have two waves of releases between 2019 and 2025. Each will be comprised of three cars, none of which is the I.D. Buzz. Instead, the Buzz sits alone, between the waves, in a sort of limbo.

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