The Americanization of Volkswagen Won't Skip Brand's Electric Hippie Bus, Crossover

by Steph Willems

Published: July 18th, 2018

In the wake of Volkswagen Group’s diesel emissions scandal, VW turned its attention to electric vehicles. Yup, EVs, and many, many crossovers. Can’t forget those.

At the time, building the brand’s future EVs in America seemed like the right thing to do — good PR, and good penance for its dirty crimes. The plan’s still a go, as VW’s Chattanooga assembly plant has plenty of excess capacity, but it’s now focused on two particular models.

Those models would be the most commodious of VW’s planned I.D. electric family: the I.D. Crozz (crossover) and I.D. Buzz (Microbus), due to launch after the I.D. hatchback. The latter model, not slated for sale in the U.S., makes its appearance next year as a 2020 model.

The Crozz and Buzz are definitely America-bound, and Chattanooga-bound, as well. Speaking to Autocar, Volkswagen’s North American boss, Hinrich Woebcken, said local production of these models is crucial. They’ll also roll off the assembly line outfitted to appeal to U.S. buyers’ tastes, he added.

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

The Crozz is expected to launch in the U.S. in 2020, with production of the Buzz (hopefully, these vehicle all gain new names) commencing in 2022.

Before any electric vehicle emerges into the Tennessee sunlight, VW first plans to add another crossover to its stable. As the automaker announced back in March, a shorter, sportier version of the three-row Atlas will appear in 2019, built alongside its larger sibling and the Passat. There’s no name pinned down for the new model just yet.

[Image: Volkswagen]

#ElectricVehicles #I.D.Buzz #I.D.Crozz #ProductPlanning #Production #Volkswagen #VolkswagenChattanooga

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2 of 18 comments

Darex on Jul 19, 2018

If VW is pinning its hopes on either of these niche vehicles, they're even more out-of-touch than I previously thought! And still, no Polo for YOU! ‍♂️

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USAFMech on Jul 20, 2018

Help me Steph. "The latter model, not slated for sale in the U.S., makes its appearance next year as a 2020 model. The Crozz and Buzz are definitely America-bound, and Chattanooga-bound, as well." The Buzz is not going on sale in the US, but it's bound for the US, and Chattanooga? I can't even.

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