2018 Los Angeles Auto Show: Volkswagen Points The Way To The Future While Honoring The Past

November 27, 2018 by Volkswagen

•Auto show debut of I.D. BUZZ CARGO: Zero-emissions panel van concept based on the MEB toolkit offers up to 340 miles of range on the WLTP cycle

•North American debut of the brand's first electric bike: Cargo e-Bike concept carries 463lb payload, making emissions-free deliveries in places a truck can't go

•Auto show debut of Beetle Final Edition: Special models celebrate Beetle's rich heritage as third-generation is set to end production in 2019

•Press conference address to be delivered by new Volkswagen Group of America CEO, Scott Keogh

Los Angeles (November 27, 2018) – Volkswagen points the way to the future while honoring the brand's rich history with three debuts at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. Two concept vehicles from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles give a glimpse into different forms of electric mobility—the I.D. BUZZ CARGO, a panel van version of the I.D. BUZZ, and the brand's first electric bike, the Cargo e-Bike. Beetle Final Edition models celebrate the automotive icon as the third generation enters its last year of production.

The original Volkswagen Transporter is the most recognizable light commercial vehicle of all time. With the auto show premiere of the I.D. BUZZ CARGO concept, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is showing how an electrically powered and completely redeveloped Transporter might change the world of LCVs. Based on the Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB), and a sibling to the I.D. BUZZ concept first shown in Detroit last year, the CARGO could be launched as a production vehicle in Europe as early as 2022.

As the newest member of the I.D. Family—a new generation of fully-connected electric vehicles—I.D. BUZZ CARGO offers long range driving capability, multiple packaging options and innovative features. Like all I.D. family models, a variety of battery packs can be fitted, according to vehicle usage. Depending on the size of the battery pack, CARGO can achieve ranges between about 200 and 340 miles on the WLTP cycle. Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has combined the battery in the CARGO with a 201-horsepower (150 kW) electric motor, a single-speed transmission, and rear-wheel drive. However, an all-wheel drive system, like the one implemented in the I.D. BUZZ, is possible in the future simply by adding a motor at the front of the vehicle. The impressive list of innovative features of the CARGO include inductive charging, a solar roof that can extend the range of the vehicle by up to 9.3 miles a day, fully autonomous driving with 'I.D. Pilot' model, a digital cargo system and a 230V socket to provide power for workers' tools.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is also introducing the brand's electric bike for the first time in North America. The Cargo e-Bike concept is perfect for making emissions-free deliveries in places where a truck can't go, like pedestrian-only city centers. A 250 Watt motor assists the rider, and is powered by a lithium-ion battery. This vehicle—the smallest Volkswagen commercial vehicle ever—is equipped with two wheels at the front, with the load platform positioned low between them. Mounted on this load platform is a cargo box with a 17.7 cu-ft storage volume. The Cargo e-Bike can carry a total payload of 463 pounds and innovative tilt-compensating tech keeps the load platform horizontal in turns. It's the perfect vehicle for that last mile, part of our vision of micro mobility for the future. Market introduction of the three-wheel cycle is expected in 2019.

As the Volkswagen brand looks to the future, it is also important to honor its past. Two special models designed to celebrate the Beetle—a true automotive icon—make their auto show debut as the third generation enters its final year of production. Available in coupe and convertible body styles, the Final Edition SE and Final Edition SEL models include exclusive equipment and unique upscale décor elements designed to send the Beetle off in style. Models also draw inspiration from the first-generation Beetle's final run in Mexico, where the vehicle is assembled.

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The Volkswagen press conference address will be delivered by the brand's new CEO for the North American region, Scott Keogh. Keogh, 49, first joined the Volkswagen Group in 2006 as Audi's chief marketing officer, where he led the revival of the Audi brand with innovative marketing tactics that led to record awareness and brand strength. In 2012, he was appointed president, building on the momentum to help reach record customer satisfaction levels and double sales from 2010 to 2015.