Volkswagen to bring five new electric cars to Australia including a remake of their iconic Kombi van – here’s what to expect
- VW Kombi homage, the ID.Buzz, hitting Aussie streets
- Will join a total of five EVs from VW in Australia by 2025
Iconic German car maker Volkswagen will launch five new models of electric cars into Australia by the end of next year to capitalise on EV mania.
The famous manufacturer announced five of its ID electric vehicle range will land here by the end of 2024 including the ID.Buzz, its homage to the classic Kombi.
The ID.Buzz will come in two makes, the ID.BUzz People-Mover and the ID.Buzz Cargo.
With a long chassis and blunt bonnet, the model harkens back to the original VW Kombi which was popular as a touring van during the 1960s and ’70s, becoming synonymous with surfer and hippie culture.
Alongside the two ID.Buzz models, the ID.3 sedan – which has been sold across Europe since 2019 – and the new ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs will hit Australian roads around the same time.
Volkswagen have announced two makes of its homage to the iconic Kombi van, the ID.Buzz (pictured), will be part of five new electric vehicles introduced to Australia by the manufacturer by the end of 2024
The Kombi’s electric successor features a range of around 500km with a charge from five to 80 per cent taking around 30 minutes when connected to a DC-fast charger.
It also comes with a digital dashboard and an emphasis on comfortable and configurable seating, including fold-out trays and manoeuvrable seating to accommodate storage or larger passenger numbers.
Although a price is yet to be announced, according to UK prices a base model could cost around $60,000 and the premium models could cost upwards of $100,000.
That price-tag may be too steep for today’s hippie or surfer but Ryan Davies, head of VW commercial vehicles in Australia, believes Australians will welcome the car to its streets.
‘The ID.Buzz is a people mover that stops traffic – people stop, stare and smile,’ he said.
‘It’s an incredible blend of style and function that will capture the imagination of Australians – and is reflected by our ambitious sales volumes.’
The ID.Buzz features a battery that will last around 500km, with a five to 80 per cent battery charge taking around 30 minutes when connected to a DC-fast charger
The Kombi homage is likely to be priced at around $60,000 for a base model while premium models will cost around $100,000, targeted at sole traders and tradies
He said the car will be targeted at sole traders and tradies.
‘We expect the ID.Buzz Cargo to sell at least as well, and it’s incredibly appealing for sole traders who want to reduce their emissions in the most fun way possible.
‘This is a proper, from the ground up tradies’ BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) – not a tacked on reverse engineering of an existing diesel vehicle,’ he continued.
The ID.4 was confirmed by Volkswagen to be priced similarly to their Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI R-Line, which currently drives off the lot at $64,000.
At these price estimates, the vehicles would be eligible for tax incentives from state governments, including reductions on stamp duty and rebates.
The announcement comes after recent statistics showed electric vehicles sales hit a record high in Australia, making up around 3 per cent of all car sales, according to the Royal Automotive Club of Victoria.
Tesla’s made up a majority of electric vehicle sales in 2022, selling 19,594 of the 33,410 total electric vehicles sold.
More recently, The first month of 2023 saw 2,927 Tesla Model 3 sedans leave the showroom, even though it has an expensive starting price of $63,900.
