The introduction of the ID.Buzz Cargo test fleet is a significant step in realising Volkswagen Group South Africa’s electric vehicle strategy for the Volkswagen brand in the country. Beyond contributing to DHL’s sustainability goals, this partnership also serves as a catalyst for Volkswagen to raise awareness about its electric vehicles in South Africa and gather crucial insights that will shape the brand’s electric vehicle strategy.

Thomas Milz, Director of Sales and Marketing at VWSA, expressed the significance of the collaboration: “Our partnership with DHL Express on the ID.Buzz Cargo test fleet marks the beginning of Volkswagen’s long-term plan to gradually introduce its electric vehicles in the local market. At the end of the pilot test, we hope to have gathered sufficient information and insights on the readiness of the local market for the introduction of a commercial electric vehicle such as the ID.Buzz Cargo. We are very excited to partner with DHL, who shares a similar commitment of zero emissions by 2050 in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement.”

DHL Express South Africa’s Managing Director, Jed Michaletos, highlighted the company’s commitment to sustainability: “As the world’s leading logistics company, we have a responsibility to set an example in our industry and be a sustainability leader. DHL Express has committed to achieving zero emission by 2050 through a number of initiatives, one of which is ensuring that we have at least 60% electric vehicles for last-mile deliveries by 2030. We are excited to partner with VWSA to pilot their ID.Buzz in our South African operations.”

The collaboration between Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles and DHL Express not only signals a major leap in the adoption of electric vehicles for commercial purposes in South Africa but also underscores the shared commitment of both companies to sustainable and environmentally responsible business practices.

For the electric Microbus, Volkswagen will start with two different versions. Consumers will get the regular ID. Buzz, initially with a five-seat configuration; commercial customers will have the ID. Buzz Cargo, a van with up to three seats separated by a divider from a capacious rear. Similar to the Staria multicab launched a month ago. With the simple lines of the concept, it’s no surprise that the production Microbus EV has stuck pretty closely to what we first saw previewed a few years ago.

Short overhangs, plenty of glasshouse, and a general focus on practicality are key. The front gets LED headlights, daytime running lights, and a fascia-spanning lightbar; at the rear, there’s a similar lightbar to link the taillights. Eighteen-inch wheels will be standard; VW will offer wheels up to 21 inches on the passenger model.

Fittingly, in addition to seven single-colour finishes — Candy White, Mono Silver, Lime Yellow, Starlight Blue, Energetic Orange, Bay Leaf Green, and Deep Black — there’ll also be optional two-tone paint jobs. They’ll pair a Candy White roof and hood-V with a choice of four colours below the character line: Lime Yellow, Starlight Blue, Energetic Orange, or Bay Leaf Green, with matching side mirrors and handles.

Inside is where the biggest differences are found, unsurprisingly. For passengers, the standard-length ID. Buzz will have two regular front seats — that can slide 9.6 inches fore and aft — and a three-seat, second-row bench that slides 5.9 inches and can fold with a 60/40 split, accessed by twin sliding doors.

Down the line, VW says, there’ll be a six-seat standard wheelbase ID. Buzz, with three rows of two individual seats each; the extended wheelbase ID. Buzz will offer a 2/3/2 seven-seat configuration. For the ID. Buzz Cargo, meanwhile, there’ll be three seats as standard — a separate driver’s seat and a double bench — with two individual seats an option.

The dashboard has a pair of 10-inch displays as standard, one for the driver’s instrumentation and one for the infotainment. A 12-inch upgrade for the latter is available, with baked-in navigation. Underneath the center screen is a row of touch-sensitive buttons and sliders for temperature, volume, and summoning menus for the dual-zone HVAC, driver assist tech, driver profiles, and parking functions.

What Volkswagen isn’t saying, quite yet is how much all this will cost. We’ll have to wait until closer to the ID. Buzz’s arrival in the first markets for that, alongside the range estimates. The worst news, though, is that would-be owners in Mzansi are going to have to be very patient. While the European version of the ID. Buzz is set to go on sale from Q3 2022, there are no plans or official communication to bring this model to Mzansi.