The Volkswagen Bus is Back — and It’s Electric

Jul 6, 2021

When Volkswagen unveiled the I.D. Buzz concept electric vehicle, which was clearly inspired by the iconic second-generation Volkswagen Bus of the 1960s and 70s, it was met to near-universal acclaim. Now, VW says it plans to make a production version of its electric prototype, which will go on sale in the U.S. in 2022.

“Our goal is clear: we want to make the fully electric, fully connected car a bestseller around the world,” said Volkswagen chairman Dr. Herbert Diess. “The iconic car of the electric age must be a Volkswagen.”

The future electric VW Bus, like the brand’s other I.D. concepts, will ride on the new Modular Electric Drive platform, which is designed to maximize the potential of future electrification technologies. Though it’s informally known as a bus because of its exterior design, the I.D. Buzz concept is more like a stylish minivan or SUV with exceptionally flexible interior arrangements.

It has three rows of ultra-configurable seats, including front seats that can be turned to face the back of the vehicle. This is made possible by a fold-away steering wheel, which is just one of many innovations introduced by the I.D. Buzz concept. Other features include pop-up laser scanners in the roof and an augmented reality-enabled head-up display.

Whenever the I.D. Buzz goes into production, you can count on finding it at Lewisville Volkswagen in Lewisville, Texas.