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Volkswagen to Bring Back the “Magic Bus,” This Time Electric-Powered

Volkswagen, whose reputation is still reeling from their emissions-cheating scandal, desperately needs a hit product.

The company is unique in that they had the world’s longest-running, most-produced car ever in their venerable Beetle, a/k/a the Type 1; between 1938 and 2003, some 21.5 million rolled off of assembly lines on several continents. So iconic was the Beetle’s design that VW was able to resurrect it in the ‘90s, and an iteration of it is still being produced today.

If there’s one other design that VW has in its history that might inspire the same fervor, it is the Type 2. Colloquially referred to as the Magic Bus, the Minibus, the Microbus, the Kombi or the Camper, it too had startling longevity, being manufactured from 1949 until 2013.

The Type 2 hit its stride in the 1960s. Able to fit a half-dozen filthy hippies inside along with their drug paraphernalia and Aldous Huxley books, the relatively inexpensive Type 2 captured the imagination of the countercultural movement. And scientific studies have proven that if you show a Type 2 to an aged hippie today, nine out of ten of them will instantly begin weeping, dancing or both.

This year Volkswagen revealed the I.D. Buzz concept, an electric update to the Type 2:

The response has been so positive that VW has announced they are bringing it back.

“After the presentations at the global motor shows in Detroit and Geneva, we received a large number of letters and emails from customers who said, 'please build this car’,” Volkswagen CEO Dr Herbert Diess said.

According to the press release,

Just like the [I.D. Buzz concept car], the production model will also have its batteries mounted in the vehicle floor. Because the electric drive components — electric motor, power electronics, and such —don’t take up much space, the vehicle has a long wheelbase with short overhangs, allowing for a massively spacious interior and great proportions. “The vehicle looks like a compact commercial van on the outside, even though it offers the generous interior space of a large SUV,” Diess explained.

CEO of the North American Region, Volkswagen, Hinrich J. Woebcken added: “This vehicle is the perfect balance between emotion, usability and sustainability, while also showcasing our technological leadership. The high seating position, cargo capacity, overall versatility and all-wheel drive option packaged into such an appealing design is just what our customers want from us. And it’s the perfect fit for the zero-emissions American lifestyle.”

Interestingly, a cargo version will also be produced, with VW perhaps eyeing the compact cargo fleet market currently enjoyed by the likes of Nissan’s NV200.

The I.D. BUZZ won’t just be a passenger vehicle. Just like the classic T2, the I.D. BUZZ will both haul people and haul freight. “Along with a minibus version, we’ll also be offering an I.D. BUZZ CARGO variant for zero-emissions delivery of goods,” said Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles CEO Dr Eckhard Scholz. “With Level 3 autonomous capability, this is an ideal concept for an electric van, particularly for delivering packages and goods to the inner cities.”

(Note: “Level 3” autonomy means certain safety-critical functions can be automated, but a driver must still be prepared to take over if the shit hits the fan.)

Volkswagen says production for the I.D. Buzz will begin in 2022.