Significant initial nostalgia and enthusiasm surrounding the return of Volkswagen’s iconic Microbus meant the ID. Buzz certainly generated, well, buzz. But that hasn’t really translated into high-volume sales. With inventories hanging around at North American dealers, production of the model has been paused and we haven’t seen a 2026 vintage of the EV.
But 2028 is another story. Acknowledging that the retro all-electric minivan is currently built on the “wrong cost base,” Volkswagen brand CEO Thomas Schäfer confirmed at the 2026 Paris Motor Show that an all-new, second-generation ID. Buzz is in the works.
And the upcoming replacement, Schäfer promised, will fix the primary issue holding back the current model and right that wrong cost base.
Switching to the SSP platform
The core of the overhaul relies on transitioning the ID. Buzz from the current MEB platform to Volkswagen Group’s next-generation Scalable Systems Platform (SSP).
Designed to underpin millions of electric vehicles across the entire automotive group, the SSP architecture will allow Volkswagen to drastically reduce engineering and production overhead. Key technological advancements expected with the platform include:
• 800-Volt Architecture: Unlocks significantly faster DC fast-charging performance, targeting 5-to-80 percent charge times in approximately 12 minutes under ideal conditions.
• LFP Battery Potential: Schäfer hinted at adopting lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry, which lowers production costs compared to traditional nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cells.
• Rivian-Developed Electronics: Centrally controlled zonal computer architecture developed via VW's joint venture with Rivian, delivering faster software processing and enhanced over-the-air (OTA) updates.
• Improved Efficiency: Optimized aerodynamics and energy management to deliver higher real-world driving range than today's model.
Evolution in design and ergonomics
Volkswagen Design Chief Andreas Mindt emphasized that while the ID. Buzz remains an iconic silhouette, the team will avoid simply repeating retro cues, noting that pure nostalgia can lose consumer appeal over time. Future iterations will balance the Microbus's distinct personality with a modern, functional approach.
Inside, the next-generation van will incorporate Volkswagen's revised interior layout. The widely unloved touch-sensitive sliders and complex touchscreen menus will make way for physical buttons, dedicated window switches and an upgraded central screen interface. We’ve already seen VW make that switch back to switches in the new ID. Polo and ID. Tiguan debuting on the European market.
Availability and timeline
The next-generation SSP-based vehicles are scheduled to begin arriving near the end of the decade, with the second-generation ID. Buzz following shortly after.
As mentioned, in North America, Volkswagen is skipping the 2026 model-year for the current ID. Buzz. It will return for 2027, but as an updated version meant to bridge the gap until the all-new replacement makes its official debut.