How to cross the shadow of the past? Creating light for future generations or great things start with a smile and an electric motor
Volkswagen - the road to the top of the automotive world
Volkswagen Group - a name that is known and respected worldwide by both other car manufacturers and drivers themselves. The giant group boasts the title of one of the largest car manufacturers in the world and its history proves that success is not always about technology and innovation alone, but often also about the past and breaking free from its reins, which are often hidden in obscurity.
It all started in 1934, when the order was given to create a car for the common people, i.e. of high quality and accessible to all citizens of the Third Reich. The people's car, that's Volkswagen in German.
The brilliant designer Ferdinand Porsche, a native of Vratislavice nad Nisou, was entrusted with the task of building a car that could comfortably carry four people and travel at speeds of up to 100 km/h on German motorways, while also being very fuel-efficient.
The project, which was named KdF-Wagen (Kraft durch Freude - Strength through Joy), was launched in 1937 after the founding of the Gesellschaft zur Vorbereitung des Deutschen Volkswagens mbH (Society for the Preparation of the German People's Car), but by 1938 it had been renamed Volkswagenwerk GmbH, and in addition to this it produced 600 pre-production cars for exhibitions.
Plans for the mass production of this people's car were very thorough and even a town, now known as Wolfsburg, was founded for this purpose. The factory was located there, as was the accommodation for the employees, which numbered several thousand apartments and houses.
But at the height of the boom, the war came and KdF-Wagen's activities were immediately transformed into the production of military off-road and amphibious vehicles.
After the end of the war, the car company had to cope with difficult circumstances, but fortunately this did not last very long. By that time it had fallen under the management of the British, who decided to resume its pre-war activities, i.e. the production of affordable cars in all respects. And they did it brilliantly. A new beginning, and a very important milestone, was the Volkswagen Beetle (Beetle), which was based on the plans for the original KdF-Wagen by Ferdinand Porsche. This car is still a phenomenon and an icon of the automotive world today, as the Volkswagen Group has produced more than 23 million of these iconic cars since 1945.
The biggest boom and global success came in the 1960s and 1970s, when the Volkswagen Group came up with new models like the Passat and Golf. These cars became a symbol of innovation and modernity and helped Volkswagen break away from its predecessor, which was beginning to be seen as outdated and completely obsolete.
The new models quickly became popular, and with this impetus Volkswagen began to develop at a meteoric pace into an automotive giant, not only in the European market, but worldwide. Thanks to its expansion since the 1980s, the company has gradually taken other brands under its wing - Seat, Czech Skoda, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Porsche, the MAN and Scania truck brands, as well as Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and Ducati motorcycles.
It's as natural on the road as a flower in a meadowPhoto: Volkswagen Užitkové vozy/ Se svolením
Together, they form a diverse range of cars with different characters and focuses that are no longer "just" for the common folk, but truly for everyone.
So although the name Volkswagen was originally associated with a dark past and the reign of Nazism, today the automotive giant symbolises modernity, innovation and quality. It is a great story of transformation that reminds us that the automotive industry is much more than just machines on four wheels, it is also about the courage not to be afraid of change and to step out of its shadows, which the Volkswagen Group represents more than perfectly.
And now for the promised news. For this occasion, we must focus on the aforementioned part of the entire Group - Commercial Vehicles. Here, two fully electric models have been created.
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
As a leading manufacturer of light commercial vehicles, the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles brand shapes the transport of goods and people and the provision of services in a fundamental and sustainable way. These vehicles transport construction workers, families and adventurers, baked goods, packages or surfboards. Every day they help countless people around the world do their jobs, serve as mobile service workshops, and transport emergency doctors and police officers to the scene.
The Utility Vehicles brand is a group-wide leader in autonomous driving and providing mobility and transportation as a service. In doing so, it lives up to its motto: "We transport success, freedom and the future". Want proof? Let's imagine an ID. Buzz, an electric car that has the potential to set the next trend.
Great things start with a smile
ID. The Buzz is a true breakthrough for Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. It's the first model that was designed from the start as a pure electric car. And with two versions - the ID. Buzz and the ID. Buzz Cargo - it can serve large families as well as businesses and tradespeople perfectly.
Authorised Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle dealers in the Czech Republic began offering test drives to their customers in January and will hand over the first cars to customers who have pre-ordered the electric car over the coming months. The versatile ID. The Buzz, offered in both passenger and commercial versions, provides practically oriented electric mobility with generous, variable interior space, zero local emissions, extensive connectivity and extremely economical operation.
" ID cars . Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo have already convinced a number of independent experts in various countries of their exceptional capabilities, as well as tens of thousands of European customers who have already chosen the ID. Buzz have already ordered it as part of the pre-sale. The progressive ID. Buzz scores points with its iconic design as well as its advanced technology combined with unrivalled utility features. It is, in short, a typical Bulli, but with pure electric drive," says Mirka Cimrová, Brand Director of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in the Czech Republic.
A five-seater ID model is now available on the Czech market . Buzz (a six-seater version with a 2-2-2 layout will be available in the future) with a higher "Pro" trim level and a maximum power output of up to 150 kW (204 hp) for a starting price of CZK 1,593,854 including VAT. The fleet of companies, entrepreneurs and tradesmen will be strengthened by the utility version ID. The range will be gradually expanded by further drive and equipment variants. The product plans also include a body variant with an extended wheelbase.
The long version with 7 seats was unveiled at the beginning of June in California and will be available for order on the Czech market by the end of this year at the latest. We'll have to wait until early 2024 for the all-wheel-drive GTX version.
The extensive standard equipment of both models includes fully networked infotainment systems, multifunction steering wheel, LED headlights, automatic air conditioning, cruise control, assistance or warning systems such as the emergency braking assistant "Front Assist" (ID. The Buzz Pro also has "Lane Assist" as standard) and "Car2X". For those who might be groping, Car2X technology increases the range of an individual vehicle's sensors many times over by incorporating information from other road users and infrastructure into the calculation of the overall current situation. Using smart software and electronics, traffic safety can thus be taken to a new, higher level.
Tailor-made for the whole familyPhoto: Volkswagen Užitkové vozy/ Se svolením
The basis for the entire design is the MEB modular platform for electric vehicles. Models ID. Buzz are offered with the largest battery pack in the ID family to date. The lithium-ion battery pack has a usable capacity of 77 kWh (the total is 82 kWh). The rear-mounted electric motor delivers a maximum power output of up to 150 kW (204 hp) and a maximum torque of 310 N.m from the start. The result is exceptional driving dynamics.
For all and sustainably
New ID models. Buzz contribute to sustainability not only with their zero local emissions, but also with their high efficiency with low operating costs, including lower maintenance requirements (no regular engine oil changes, relatively long service intervals). According to the WLTP methodology, ID. Buzz uses 20.6 kWh of electricity per 100 km (Cargo: 20.4 kWh/100 km) and can travel up to 423 km on a single charge (Cargo: 425 km). Using direct current from the rapid charging stand, the battery pack can be charged from 5 to 80 percent capacity in a stunning approx. 30 minutes using a maximum charging power of up to 170 kW. So you can grab a drink or a meal at the charging station, or do anything undemanding, and continue your journey without any problems.
Important note - all ID. Buzz are delivered to customers with a neutralCO2 balance.
The new ID. Buzz and ID. Buzz Cargo have already come to the Czech market with several prestigious awards from independent organizations. Last September, the ID. Buzz Cargo the title of "International Van of the Year 2023" from an international jury of 34 journalists specialising in commercial vehicles. Then, at the end of last year, Euro NCAP published the safety test results which led to the award of the ID. Buzz the highest possible rating with five stars. ID. Buzz confirms that it is one of the safest cars on the market today.
Are you intrigued by the specifications described above, or by the Volkswagen story as a whole, and you're looking for a new car? Then it's time to dive into their configurator, where you'll find two new models as well as a full range of other commercial vehicles. Lead times range from 6-12 months depending on the specific configuration.
