The Americanization of Volkswagen Won't Skip Brand's Electric Hippie Bus, Crossover
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]
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- Daniel J I had read an article several years ago that one of the issues that workers were complaining about with this plant is that 1/3 of the workforce were temporary workers. They didn't have the same benefits as the other 2/3 of the employees. Will this improve this situation or make it worse? Do temporary workers get a vote?I honestly don't care as long as it is not a requirement to work at the plant.
- Kosmo Tragic. Where in the name of all that is holy did anybody get the idea that self-driving cars were a good idea? I get the desire for lane-keeping, and use it myself, occasionally, but I don't even like to look across the car at my passenger while driving, let along relinquish complete control.
- Bof65705611 There’s one of these around the corner from me. It still runs…driven daily, in fact. That fact always surprises me.
- Master Baiter I'm skeptical of any project with government strings attached. I've read that the new CHIPS act which is supposed to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the U.S. is so loaded with DEI requirements that companies would rather not even bother trying to set up shop here. Cheaper to keep buying from TSMC.
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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! ♂️
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.