From the Type 2 to the ID. Buzz: a Short History of the VW Bus
The VW electric bus is almost here. Where did Volkswagen’s iconic concept come from? Why did it disappear?
Written by Andrew Koole
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The VW electric bus is almost here. The ID. Buzz, as it’s called, will roll out of manufacturing facilities onto European roads this year, with a version headed to the U.S. in 2024. But this new minivan/people carrier has something most
EVs
don’t—pedigree.For most of Volkswagen’s car history, it’s offered one form or another of this iconic microbus. And while the automaker hasn’t had a van in its lineup for quite some time, the double-punch buggie has managed to stay fresh in the imaginations of drivers.
As we await our chance to jump behind the wheel of the ID. Buzz, Jerry took a moment to look back at the evolution of Volkswagen’s second oldest model to give you the backstory behind what might be the most
highly anticipated
minivan of all time.VW bus beginnings
You might associate the VW bus with Woodstock and the hippies, but the concept for the German automaker’s iconic van arrived on the scene much earlier than that.
The first Type 2 “people carrier” rolled off the assembly line in November 1949, two years after it was originally drawn by Dutch businessman Ben Pon. The Type 2, later referred to as the Kombi, was the first vehicle resembling a van that managed to reach mass production.
Besides its many interior configurations, the Kombi stayed true to form until 1968, when VW introduced the second generation.
Gone were the split windshields, v-shaped hood, and rounded edges. Instead, Volkswagen gave the van a more utilitarian look while increasing interior size and engine power.
Production for Canada, Europe, and the U.S. ended in 1979 but continued for many years in the rest of the Americas. In Brazil, production lasted until 2013!
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From the classic model to the VW electric bus
Volkswagen produced many variations of their beloved microbus over the years. Some reached American shores while others were left to roll around on other continents. The third-generation model, for example, is still recognizable, especially as a Westfalia camper van.
When the fourth generation of the Type 2, the Transporter, arrived in 1990, it was a much more conventional-looking, front-engine van. Sales of the Transporter were poor in the U.S. due to the 25% “chicken” tax implemented by President Johnson in 1971 that made the van too expensive.
The Transporter was the last van VW sent to our shores, but even before its exit in 2003, Volkswagen teased concepts for a modern Kombi.
The concept for a VW electric bus called the Bulli arrived in 2011, and now production plans for the ID. Buzz are set for Europe and North America.
MORE: 30 Years On, The VW EuroVan GL Is Still a Fun Drive
How much will the VW electric bus cost to own?
With sales in the U.S. not starting until 2024, exact prices are still unknown. But by looking at the current EV market,
Car and Driver
estimates the starting price for an ID. Buzz to be around $40,000.That’s a little more than your average minivan, but the savings on other car ownership costs like maintenance and fuel will help things even out over time.
Like most Volkswagen coverage, car insurance for an ID. Buzz will probably be a little higher than the national average, but you can find all kinds of savings by shopping with
Jerry
. A licensed broker that offers end-to-end support, Jerry can provide you with competitive quotes in under a minute. Swapping is just as effortless. The average Jerry user saves $887 a year on car insurance.
MORE: How the Volkswagen Type 1 Became the Slug Bug
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