Volkswagen has confirmed the new-age electrified version of its venerable Kombi, the ID. Buzz range, will be launched in Australia before the end of the year and has published a list of prices for the various models .
VW says that the range which includes the workhorse van models and the passenger oriented mini-vans, with the top of the line scrapes in below the luxury car tax threshold in with a price the brand says sneaks in below the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold. except for the highest spec version, its luxury ID.Buzz GTX, which comes in well above the tax trigger point.
The workhorse ID. Buzz Cargo model however, easily makes it under the $91,387 tax threshold, with prices for the can model starting at $79,990. AS the ID.Buzz range moves into the passenger realm the prices rises, with the ID. Buzz Pro people mover models prices set at $87,990 for the five-seater short wheelbase and $91,290 for the seven-seater long wheelbase model.
VW says the rear drive ID. Buzz Pro and Cargo models is powered by a 210kW motor, while the range topping GTX people mover uses a dual-motor 250kW 4Motion drivetrain and this model in the form of the luxury ID.Buzz GTX long wheelbase 4Motion goes well north of the LCT threshold with its sticker price set at $109,990 .
Volkswagen has to some extent benefitted from the rise in the LCT threshold for zero emission vehicles, which rose from $89,332 to $91,387 on the 1st July this year. The LCT for ICE vehicles went up from 76,950 to $80,567 not he same date. The change means that most of the ID.Buzz range is not subject to the tax that starts with th imposition of a tax of 33 cents on every dollar above the threshold .
The company has said that the short wheelbase models will be powered by a 79kWh battery while the long wheelbase models will have a bigger 86kWh power source, with the company yet to confirm all the spec details for our country, just yet.
Volkswagen director of commercial vehicles Ryan Davies has said that nearly 7000 customers have already expressed interest in the ID.Buzz range and the company expects that to grow even further.
“Many Australians have a deep emotional and historical connection with Volkswagen vans and people movers,” Davies said.
“We’re delighted to deliver the highly desirable BEV reinventions of those classics and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ first fully electric range gives us a capability to supply families and fleets alike with a vehicle that has been highly anticipated,” the VW Commercials boss said
While the company has confirmed that most models in the ID.Buzz range will hit our roads before the end of the year, including the Buzz Pro and Cargo, the range topping GTX 4Motion won’t be here till early 2025.
The range will include what VW describes as the ‘fleet friendly’ ID. Buzz Cargo, which is equipped with a three-seat layout along with the ability to carry two full-size pallets and a payload of about 650kg, with the weight of the batteries obviously restricting the payload capabilities.
Davies said that fast approaching New Vehicle Efficiency Standard means the ID.Buzz Cargo could be the vehicle to drive fleets into the future.
T&B News had a brief taster drive of the ID Buzz range at the 2022 IAA Truck Show in Hanover and came away impressed with its drivability, zippiness and overall dynamics. The question will be whether the relatively high sticker prices prove too much of a barrier for pragmatic tradies, delivery drivers and shuttle bus operators, particularly given the fact that it is about $20,000 dearer than LDV’s recently introduced eDeliver7 electric van. The LDV is the price leader in the electric van market with a starting price of $59,990 for ABN holders, and it also boasts a full 1000kg payload.
Still the look and prestige of the VW badge and the image of the venerable ‘Kombi’ will attract plenty of buyers both in the commercial and private realms, we are sure.
