Volkswagen ID. Buzz local pricing revealed

VOLKSWAGEN has confirmed its Kombi-esque ID. Buzz range is on route to Australia, due locally before the end of the year with a price the brand says sneaks in below the Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold.

The ID. Buzz sits at the top of the brand’s van range, but Volkswagen Australia claims to have worked hard to keep the starting price under the $91,387 LCT threshold for zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs).

As of 1 July 2024, the LCT threshold for ZEVs rose from $89,332 to $91,387, while the threshold for regular vehicles increased from $76,950 to $80,567. The LCT kicks in at 33 cents on every dollar above the limit – so top-spec ID.Buzz GTX long wheelbase 4Motion at $109,990 will fall victim to the tax.

The other models, however, will be exempt with the ID. Buzz Cargo model starting from $79,990, before the ID. Buzz Pro people mover models jump to $87,990 for the five-seater short wheelbase and $91,290 for the seven-seater long wheelbase model.

The ID. Buzz Pro and Cargo models – excluding the GTX all-wheel drive model – will be powered by a 210kW motor, which sends drive to the rear wheels, while the top-spec GTX people mover gets a dual-motor 250kW powertrain.

Short wheelbase models will use a 79kWh battery while long wheelbase models use a slightly larger 86kWh unit, but range figures for the Australian models are yet to be confirmed.

According to Volkswagen’s director of commercial vehicles Ryan Davies almost 7000 customers have expressed interest in the incoming model, and he expects that number to continue to grow.

“Many Australians have a deep emotional and historical connection with Volkswagen vans and people movers,” he said.

“We’re delighted to deliver the highly desirable BEV reinventions of those classics.

“Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles’ first fully electric range gives us a capability to supply families and fleets alike with a vehicle that has been highly anticipated.”

Volkswagen Australia has confirmed that the ID. Buzz Pro and Cargo models will be available before the end of the year, while the top-spec GTX all-wheel drive model will arrive early next year.

A model Mr Davies says the brand is particularly excited about is the fleet friendly ID. Buzz Cargo, with its three-seat layout and capacity to carry two full-size pallets – although its 3000kg GVM only leaves around 650kg of payload (well short of the magic ‘tonne’ Australian operators want) based on overseas model specifications.

“With the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard closing in fast, Cargo is the vehicle to drive fleets into the future,” said Mr Davies of the workhorse option.

Despite the optimism, the base ID. Buzz Cargo model is priced around $20,000 higher than the LDV eDeliver 7 which starts at $59,990 for ABN holders, while also offering a payload of more than a tonne.

GoAuto drove the ID. Buzz in Europe last year, getting a taste for the electric family van on a road trip through the Grossglockner pass in Austria. You can read about it here.

2024 Volkswagen ID. Buzz pricing*:

*Pricing excludes on-road costs.