Volkswagen has confirmed the upcoming ID. California campervan based on the ID. Buzz. The project got greenlighted by today’s supervisory board meeting and is expected to reach the market in the second half of the decade.
According to the automaker, there is high demand for the California range in many countries, with orders significantly and continually increasing during the past few months. Thus, the board approved the capital expenditure for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to start the development of the first fully electric California.
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The ID. California will expand VW’s range of campervans that currently includes the Caddy California micro camper, the 6.1 California based on the Transporter and the Crafter-based California XXL.
The campervan variant of the ID. Buzz will ride on the MEB platform – probably using the longer wheelbase bodystyle as a base for maximum interior space. Given that it will be designed for longer trips, it will likely get the larger 111 kWh battery pack allowing for adequate range, plus providing power for camping-related appliances. In terms of design, the ID. California is expected to get the signature pop-up roof allowing passengers to stand inside the cabin and creating space for an extra sleeping area. It could also get a kitchenette, and clever storage compartments, benefiting from the flat floor of the electric architecture.
Dr. Carsten Intra, CEO of VW Commercial Vehicles and Chairman of the Brand’s Board of Management, said: “The ID. California based on the ID. Buzz will combine the ongoing trend towards mobile leisure arrangements with sustainable CO2-neutral mobility.”
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Besides confirming the ID. California and hinting at more variants of the VW Commercial Vehicle range, the supervisory board has also come to an agreement about the future of the Hannover plant, ruling out any “operational redundancies” up to the end of 2029.
Since last summer, VW has been building a new assembly line in Hannover, with production scheduled to start in 2025. Originally, it was destined for producing premium electric models for Audi and Porsche, plus vehicle body construction for a new Bentley, however, Porsche decided to use a different electric platform for its model thus not interested in the synergy anymore. Finally, it has been decided that the Hannover plant will undertake production of the new T7 Multivan, the T 6.1, the ID. Buzz in both passenger and cargo variants, the resulting vehicles from the Artemis Project, and the new Bentley.
Bertina Murkovic, Chair of the Works Council at Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles said: “After the disappointment of Porsche deciding against the Hannover site, we have now agreed on the investment for a future of high utilization levels in Hannover and good strategic prospects for the VWCV brand”.
Dr. Carsten Intra said: “We are developing Hannover into a multi-brand and high-tech site and at the same time strengthen our own commercial vehicle model range. And we’re investing in the sustainable expansion of our successful California model series”, adding that the jobs of the men and women who work in the Hannover plant are secured.
As explained by Dr. Astrid Fontaine, a member of the board who is responsible for People and Transformation, the agreement is a guarantee for more than 10,000 jobs, adding that from next year and through to the end of the decade, VW will be investing a further 21 million euros in order to train the team in new tasks related to the digitalization and electrifications of their products.