VW plans to produce its all-electric microbus and crossover in the US

Volkswagen has aggressive electric vehicle plans, but it is focused on Europe and China where the German automaker sees regulations pushing for quicker adoption of electric vehicles.

Yet, the automaker has now confirmed plans to produce its upcoming all-electric microbus and crossover in the US.

VW’s series of “I.D.” concept vehicles are powered by the company’s new MEB platform for electric vehicles.

There’s the I.D., which is a Golf-sized vehicle is expected to be their first mass-market EV for the model year 2020. VW also unveiled the I.D. VIZZION sedan, the crossover all-electric I.D. CROZZ Concept, and then there’s the I.D. BUZZ electric microbus coming in 2022.

The last two are the ones that the automaker plans to produce in the US.

Hinrich Woebcken, Head of VW in North America, confirmed it to Autocar this week:

“For strong product momentum, they need to be produced in the USA. It’s not possible to come into a high-volume scenario with imported cars. We want to localise electric mobility in the US.”

He said that the vehicles will be ‘Americanised’ for the market.

The all-electric I.D. CROZZ Concept will be a compact SUV. Here are a few images of the prototype that they unveiled:

The vehicle is equipped with a dual motor powertrain with 75 kW of power in the front and 150 kW in the back, for a total power of 225 kW (302 hp).

The battery pack has a capacity of 83 kWh and VW claims it will enable the same range of “over 500 kilometers (310.7 miles)”. Though they were talking about NEDC rating for electric vehicle range at the time and therefore, we expect real-world range or the EPA estimate to be closer to ~275 miles.

As for the I.D. BUZZ electric microbus, it is a new version of VW’s iconic microbus. They brought to Monterey a working prototype that they first unveiled last year:

When unveiling the vehicle in Detroit, VW said that there will be two options. The most high-end will feature an all-wheel drive system with a total output of 369 horsepower powered by a massive 111 kWh battery pack. Surprisingly, especially after their previous range comparisons, VW also offered the estimated range based on the U.S. driving cycle, which the company claims will be 270 miles.

The German automaker claims that this version of the I.D. BUZZ can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 5 seconds and has a top speed of 99 mph.

Another less expensive version will feature a rear-wheel drive setup producing up to 268 hp and a smaller 83 kWh battery for a range closer to 200 miles.