The Journal. How Volkswagen's Electric Bus Lost Its Charge
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Jul 29, 2025 
Sean McLain, a WSJ auto industry reporter and VW bus enthusiast, dives into the struggles of Volkswagen's ID Buzz, their all-electric revival of the iconic bus. He discusses the hype surrounding its launch and the significant challenges it faced in capturing American consumer interest. The historical legacy of the VW bus as a cultural icon contrasts sharply with the current lackluster market response. McLain also highlights how Volkswagen aims to rebuild trust post-Dieselgate while navigating fierce competition in the EV landscape.
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The Bus's Big Comeback Event
- Volkswagen held the first International Volkswagen Bus Day in Huntington Beach, celebrating the iconic VW bus with hundreds of vintage vehicles.
- The event announced the return of the VW bus as the all-electric ID.Buzz to the U.S. market.
Dieselgate's Role in VW's EV Shift
- Volkswagen's decision to remake the bus was driven by the 2015 Dieselgate scandal damaging its environmental reputation.
- The ID.Buzz was aimed to help Volkswagen regain trust as it pivoted to electric vehicles like Tesla.
Internal Struggles Delay Launch
- Volkswagen assigned production of the ID.Buzz to its commercial vehicle division, which lacked experience in US passenger cars.
- Internal company competition led to poor engineering collaboration and delayed the project nearly a decade.