Monday, 09 January 2017
Microbus gets powered up
Bloomberg reports that Volkswagen AG laid out a new design for a revived, battery-powered version of its iconic hippie-era Microbus as the carmaker seeks to overhaul its U.S. lineup in a renewed comeback push.
The latest iteration of the van, a concept dubbed the I.D. Buzz, is part of the VW brand's strategy to sell cars based on new electric-powering technology as of 2020 and deliver 1 million zero-emission vehicles annually by 2025, division chief Herbert Diess said Sunday in a statement. Groupwide, Volkswagen plans deliveries of as many as three million battery-powered cars a year by then, with the brand's North American production of the models starting in 2021.
'We want to reignite America's love for Volkswagen,' Herbert said in a speech late Sunday in Detroit before the opening of the North American International Auto Show, where the I.D. Buzz will be on display. 'We are determined to to become a relevant and profitable volume manufacturer in the U.S. within the next ten years,' he said.
Rebuilding the VW marque's shattered U.S. reputation is one of the most difficult tasks the former BMW AG executive faces in his sweeping overhaul of Europe's largest automaker's biggest division. Following an ill-fated product strategy that misread American preferences for large, affordable cars, the brand was already struggling to become more than a niche player in the country when the emissions-test rigging came to light in September 2015.
The I.D. Buzz can drive as far as 270 miles (430 kilometers) without recharging, accommodates as many as eight seats and has a function for fully autonomous driving, according to the carmaker. A retractable steering wheel folds into the dashboard when the autopilot is activated.
A more tangible vehicle for American buyers to be unveiled at the Detroit show is a new version of VW's Tiguan sport utility vehicle with a longer wheelbase that's set to reach showrooms later this year. The more spacious Tiguan follows the brand's new $30,000 Atlas model, which marks VW's first foray into the popular mid-size SUV segment in North America. The vehicle is built at VW's plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, along with the Passat sedan.
VW will introduce two new U.S. models every year going forward. 2018 'will be the year of the sedans. And in 2019, we will come with two more all-American SUVs,' Herbert said. He said VW is considering adding variants of the Atlas to attract more customers. He said VW doesn't have plans to start selling diesel cars in the U.S. again, but wouldn't rule out such a move forever for some of the brand's larger models.