Return of the VW Microbus
Head designer Klaus Bischoff explains why VW's futuristic self-driving electric van has a retro look
Who's ready for a long, strange electric trip?
The VW Type 2 Westfalia is an iconic camper van. (Hauke-Christian Dittrich/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Volkswagen has confirmed plans to build a new model called the ID.California, suggesting a battery-powered camper van is in the works.
The ID.Buzz concept shows its retro style. (Volkswagen)
The retro-style ID.Buzz electric minivan, which is modeled after the original Type 2 microbus, is set to go on sale in 2023 and will fill a segment currently occupied by the VW Transporter van.
The VW Transporter California is a camper-style van. (Volkswagen)
The Transporter, which isn't sold in the U.S., is currently available in a California model with a pop-up roof, awning, bed and kitchen, much like the Microbus Westfalia.
During a meeting of VW's supervisory board, its head of commercial vehicles said "the ID. California based on the ID.Buzz will combine the ongoing trend towards mobile leisure arrangements with sustainable CO2-neutral mobility," according to The Drive.
The production ID.Buzz has been teased with this psychedelic-pattered version. (Volkswagen)
The ID.Buzz will be offered in a variety of configurations, from passenger vans to cargo vans and even as an autonomous taxi being developed with Argo AI.
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The ID.California will be built at VW's Hanover, Germany, factory, but U.S. availability has not been confirmed.