Hannover goes electric: ID. Buzz serial production starts at the Bulli plant

• VWCV CEO Carsten Intra: 'The ID. Buzz is a key pillar in the full utilisation of the factory'

•Successful conversion of the facility over two years during ongoing production

•Carbon emissions from production and logistics are offset

•Deliveries of ID. Buzz1 and ID. Buzz Cargo1 will start this fall

At the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWCV) brand's main plant in Hannover, where production of the ID. Buzz Cargo1 has already begun, serial production of the ID. Buzz1 is now starting. Josef Baumert, Member of the VWCV Brand Management Board for Production and Logistics, and Stavros Christidis, Chairman of the VWCV Works Council, celebrated the start of ID. Buzz production along with many employees. Alongside Zwickau and Emden, Hannover is Volkswagen's third electric vehicle site in Germany where the ID. family vehicles are being produced.

Carsten Intra, Chairman of the Brand Management Board of VWCV: 'The start of serial production of the all-electric ID. Buzz is an important milestone in the electrification of our fleet and for the manufacturing operation at the Hannover site. The vehicle is a key pillar in the full utilisation of our factory and is thus safeguarding the future of the site. Now it's finally here, a moment that the staff at VWCV have worked hard towards over the past years. I thank everyone for this great team effort!'

Further conversions were undertaken in the vehicle production facility at the Hannover plant for the new ID. Buzz1. These included the building of a new body shop and new sections for electrical parts on the assembly line. 'Over the last two years, the production facility has been continually prepared for the manufacture of the new all-electric vehicles, while the T6.1 and since last year the New Multivan have simultaneously been made here in Hannover', Baumert said during the official celebrations to mark the start of production. He added: 'We are now manufacturing three 'Bulli' product lines with three different drive system concepts in our plant here. This means complexity makes huge demands of our workforce.' In order to ensure a smooth start to full production, around 4,000 employees were given training at the facility on the new model and the working processes.

'The start of full production of the ID. Buzz marks the launch of a new icon here at VWCV in Hannover,' said Christidis during the celebrations. 'The 'Bulli of the future' is safeguarding jobs at our brand headquarters in Hannover.'

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is planning to produce up to 15,000 ID. Buzz1 and ID. Buzz Cargo1 vehicles this year. Once production is up to full speed, as many as 130,000 vehicles per year can in future be produced in Hannover.

Both versions of the ID. Buzz1 are pioneers in terms of their sustainability: their manufacture and shipping carbon-emissions are offset. We are also using recycled synthetic materials and the interior is completely free of any real leather.

Pre-sales started

In the UK, customers can place a £2,000 pre-booking fee with their dealer between 30 May and 30 June to secure a priority slot to specify their ID. Buzz during the ordering window*. The pre-order is available on the five-seater ID. Buzz model and not the Cargo variant. The ID. Buzz range currently starts at £57,115.00 (RRP inc VAT and OTR) for the Life, rising through £61,915.00 for the Style and up to £62,995 for the 1st Edition.

Photo credit: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
posted on conceptcarz.com