Posted on 10/23/2025 7:49:25 AM PDT by Red Badger
It seems Volkswagen is having a tough time selling its latest passenger vans, the ID. Buzz and Multivan. According to German media, VW's historic Hanover plant, the home of the iconic Microbus, has been paused for the period October 20-24.
A company spokesperson told Germany's DPA press agency that the pause will allow VW to adapt production to “changed market conditions.” This follows the automaker already extending its summer shutdown at the plant by an extra week and reducing hours during September.
The spokesperson added that VW expects the current “intense competition” in the market for both electric vehicles and light commercial vans to continue in the coming months and is actively taking measures to help increase demand for the ID. Buzz and Multivan. Automotive News reported that these measures include increased marketing efforts and offering incentives.
ID. Buzz Falls Well Below Expectations
The fully electric ID. Buzz is the spiritual successor to the Microbus of the 1960s and 1970s, and VW was hopeful it would appeal to both older buyers seeking nostalgia and younger buyers looking for a fun, retro alternative to an SUV. However, a delayed launch, a starting price north of $60,000 in the US, and an underwhelming maximum range of just 234 miles meant it failed to ignite the market. Coupled with a slower-than-expected uptake of EVs, it’s easy to see why sales aren't meeting VW's expectations.
2025 VW ID Buzz US (2) Volkswagen Global sales of the ID. Buzz, including both passenger and commercial versions, were less than 30,000 units in 2024, with the US total coming in at only 1,162 units, although the electric van was only introduced midway through the year here. Sales in 2025 are expected to improve but not significantly.
Production capacity at the Hanover plant is around 130,000 vehicles annually, but demand for VW's other van built at the site, the Multivan, is also well below expectations. The Multivan is VW's passenger van available with internal-combustion engine and plug-in hybrid powertrain options. It is based on Volkswagen Group's MQB platform, shared with vehicles like the Golf and Atlas, but isn't sold in the US. While using the car-like MQB platform improved ride and comfort, the storage area isn't as flexible for upfitting, and payload and towing limits are lower than in the previous generation.
VW Transporter No Longer Built in Hannover Volkswagen Transporter T7 Green Front Angled View VanFleetWorld Traditionally, VW's Transporter commercial van and Multivan passenger van were based on the same dedicated van platform, allowing both models to share a robust chassis, high load capacity, and flexible interior layouts, as well as a production line. This common architecture enabled VW to efficiently serve both commercial and private buyers while maintaining the durability and versatility that made the Transporter and Multivan icons in their respective segments.
For the latest generation, the Transporter was co-developed with Ford’s Transit Custom to reduce costs. Its production was also moved to a Ford plant in Türkiye. VW continued to sell the previous-generation Transporter built in Hannover alongside the new model but ended production of the older van in 2024.
I had a thought the other day. You just don’t see vans anymore. Maybe white work vans but no one’s buying a full size van as a personal vehicle.
Odd.
The Land Yacht Custom Van craze went out with the advent of the SUV as status symbol.............
The range and price are the problem. Over $60K and under 300-mile range. No thanks. Nostalgia only gets you so far. Put in a system that gets you 350 or so, or better yet a small ICE to charge the battery when needed to up the range to maybe 600-700 miles. Then you’d get my attention. Also bring the price down into the $45-50K range. I was interested in it when it was first proposed have been watching its development. Thought about it as a second, around town/haul things vehicle. But not for $60K. I’ll keep looking for a good used Astro/Safari I can fix up. Had an AWD one back in the early teens, should never had sold it.
Make it an ICE with camper van option and you couldn’t keep them in stock.
I might have considered buying one if it was an ICE. I have fond memories of the ‘63 camper I used to have, despite the neurotic ex-wife that came with it.
Make an ICE version.
40,000 ice versions
We had a Chevy Astro Van Custom. Four Captain’s chairs, electric everything, Most comfortable ride ever. And wasn’t bad on gas either!.............
I grew up in v-buses.
This thing isn’t them - It’s a battery.
My wife and I have been having...conversations...regarding a vehicle for our retirement. We intend to travel to (and participate in) art and craft shows across the southwest. We need more space than is offered in most SUVs and fuel efficiency is important as well. I have been proposing minivans, but the wife doesn’t like the look. She claims we already went through the minivan portion of our lives and she doesn’t wan to return to it.
Then, the other day, we saw the new VW van. The wife was smitten. “IT IS SO CUTE!” Then I shared that it was only available as an EV. Her enthusiasm immediately cratered. “What idiot made that decision?”
If VW were able to make this a conventional gas powered vehicle, or maybe a hybrid, and keep the price in the low $40s, they would have a winner.
Yep. Throw a 150 HP four-banger in the back and I might be interested.
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Yup.
Ford’s CEO, Jim Farley, acknowledged that the company’s large electric vehicles, like the F-150 Lightning, did not meet consumer demand and were considered a misstep.
The dogs don’t like food, simple as. Back to drawing board Heinrich.
And don’t forget that EVs eat tires because of the weight............
Ditch the EV crap. Make it $35k with a hybrid or ICE engine.
Watch it sell like crazy.
For anyone familiar with the real thing, this doesn’t look right.
It’s merely a modern twist on retro - a “retro flavor”.
Weak tea.
The modern-day tires are especially offensive to the look.
I almost mentioned that one along with the work vans. Some churches are going with the van as a cab and chassis with bus body.
I had an old Dodge 1 ton van that was the length of a 15 passenger van. Wasn’t all windows but had swing open side and rear doors with windows. Also had a short Dodge van with baby moon windows on the sides near the back that people said looked like the Scoobie Doo van.
A pink VW bus. No thanks, LOL!
Yeah, the bus & bug are from my era. That’s not the VW bus I remember.
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