VW's ID.Buzz May Finally Get The Only Real Upgrade It Needs

VW CEO Thomas Schäfer confirmed that a new ID. Buzz is in development, with the next-generation van expected to ride on the automaker’s upcoming Scalable Systems Platform (SSP). The architecture promises more advanced technology, improved efficiency, and potentially better range and charging performance.

But before that next-generation model arrives, Volkswagen plans to update the current van with additional technology and refinements. It's a move we're seeing from other automakers as well, in a desperate bid to keep slightly older technology relevant in the face of whatever comes next.

The bigger story, however, is the possibility of a more affordable successor. Schäfer has acknowledged that the existing ID. Buzz is too expensive, with a roughly $60,000-plus starting price that clashes with its appeal as a practical family vehicle, and the consequences of that pricing have become clear in the model's early hiatus while VW works on its plans.

That price problem has become increasingly difficult to ignore. The ID. Buzz offers distinctive styling and a genuinely different take on electric transportation — just sit in the driver's seat for five seconds, and you'll see what we mean — but its limited range on a charge and premium pricing have made it a tough sell. Volkswagen has already skipped multiple model years in the U.S., with its return now expected for the 2028 model year.

A cheaper next-generation model could give the van a much better shot at success. Volkswagen may also explore less expensive battery technology-- including lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries-- to help bring costs down.