Volkswagen launching Kombi homage among five new electric vehicles in Australia by end of 2024

Iconic German automaker Volkswagen will launch five new electric car models in Australia by the end of next year to capitalize on the EV mania.

The famed manufacturer has announced that five of its electric ID models will land here by the end of 2024, including the ID.Buzz, its homage to the classic Kombi.

The ID.Buzz comes in two versions, 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 car in the 1960s and 1970s and became synonymous with surfer and hippie culture.

In addition to the two ID.Buzz models, the ID.3 saloon – sold across Europe since 2019 – and the new ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs will hit Australian roads around the same time.

The electric successor to the Kombi has a range of about 500 km and charging from 5 to 80 percent takes about 30 minutes when connected to a DC fast charger.

It also comes with a digital dash and an emphasis on comfortable and configurable seats, including fold-out trays and maneuverable seats for storage or increased passenger numbers.

While no price has yet to be announced, according to UK pricing a base model could cost around $60,000 and the premium models more than $100,000.

That price tag may be too high for today’s hippie or surfer, but Ryan Davies, head of VW commercial vehicles in Australia, believes Australians will welcome the car to the streets.

“The ID.Buzz is a people mover that stops traffic – people stop, stare and smile,” he said.

“It’s an incredible mix of style and function that will capture the imagination of Australians – and is reflected in our ambitious sales volumes.”

The ID.Buzz has a battery that lasts about 500 km, with a battery charge from five to 80 percent taking about 30 minutes when connected to a DC fast charger

The Kombi Tribute will likely be priced at around $60,000 for a base model, while premium models will cost around $100,000 aimed at sole traders and crafts

He said the car will be aimed at sole traders and crafts.

“We expect the ID.Buzz Cargo to sell at least as well, and it’s incredibly attractive to sole traders looking to cut their emissions in the most fun way possible.

“This is a true BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) from the ground up – not a polished reverse engineering of an existing diesel vehicle,” he continued.

Volkswagen confirmed that the ID.4 would be priced similarly to their Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI R-Line, currently running off the lot for $64,000.

At these price estimates, the vehicles would qualify for tax breaks from state governments, including stamp duty rebates and rebates.

The announcement comes after recent statistics show that electric vehicle sales have hit an all-time high in Australia, accounting for about 3 percent of all car sales, according to the Royal Automotive Club of Victoria.

Teslas made up the majority of EV sales in 2022, selling 19,594 of a total of 33,410 EVs sold.

More recently, in the first month of 2023, 2,927 Tesla Model 3 sedans left the showroom, even though it has an expensive starting price of $63,900.