German automotive group Volkswagen’s plans to release an electric camper van, the ID. California, have been confirmed in a recent presentation focused on the company’s plans to electrify its European manufacturing plants.
The concept of the ID. California – a name which springs from the combination of the company’s electric vehicle tag “ID” and the company’s current line-up of ‘California’ campers – was warmly welcomed by those looking for further electric options that will allow them to explore outside the city limits.
The presentation was short of details, but it is clear that the ID. California will be based on the ID. Buzz platform – first teased back at NAIAS 2017 and since confirmed last month at the same time as Volkswagen unveiled the ID.5.
Expected to be released in 2022 with an 82kWh battery pack, the ID. Buzz is expected to also be the first VW vehicle to showcase the autonomous driving solution that the company has been developing in partnership with Argo.AI.
Subsequent reports, though, have also suggested that the ID. Buzz could boast a battery pack as big as 111kWh with a range of as much as 550-kilometres – something of a must for the heir to Kombi fame.
The clue to the ID. California was included in a diagram released byVW of its production facilities, which will be electrified and re-equipped for full production of the ID.3 from 2024. Volkswagen’s Hanover site will produce the first Audi Artemis vehicle as well as the promised ID. California.
Volkswagen’s German components plants will continue their transformation to e-mobility, which was started back in 2015, and will include the Hanover plant expand to begin producing acles for MEB models.
The company’s component plants in Braunschweig, Salzgitter, and Kassel will also be expanded to help support production of MEB battery systems, rotors/stators, and electric motors.
The company’s Salzgitter site will also be expanded to become a European battery hub and Volkswagen will invest €2 billion to produce Volkswagen’s unified cell for the volume segment at its gigafactory in Lower Saxony from 2025.
When all Volkswagen’s new expansion and investments in electrification are tallied, the company is planning to invest €89 billion in the electrification and digitalisation of its European manufacturing facilities.
“The resolutions passed today show how resolutely we are driving forward the transformation of the Volkswagen Group,” said Hans Dieter Pötsch, chairman of the supervisory board of Volkswagen AG.
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.