My immediate thought whenever I need to write about either Volkswagen or the ID.Buzz electric van, is to point out that I’m a fan of both. Mostly, this is because writing about either positively has been kind of hard lately. Whatever happens, I don’t want it to seem like I’m kicking a brand when it’s down.
There are many issues, but some of those are not exactly VW’s fault (you can’t exactly blame the company for tariffs or the tax credit expiration). It’s also not the only company to have given in to EV hype, and the picture in North America is a lot different from the picture in Europe, where VW and its other brands (like Škoda and Cupra) are still finding ways to sell electric cars.
Here, we think mostly about the ID.4 and ID.Buzz. These were not successful products. I appreciate the company’s try-everything approach, but when you try everything, you sometimes risk letting the failures overwhelm you. Is Volkswagen headed that way with its autonomous ID.Buzz? That’s the risk.
Established automakers in China face their own dilemmas when it comes to adding a suite of advanced capabilities–which Chinese consumers demand–so Huawei is there to help. Let’s talk about HIMA, which is not a K-Pop band your kids love.
Both Rivian and Tesla had a good Q3, but how long will that last? While I’m talking about electric cars on TMD, lemme get into a fun one: GM sold more EV trucks after introducing a lower-tier model!
Is The VW ID.BUZZ AD Going To Work?
I quote Manager Magazin a lot around here because they are quite well-sourced around Wolfsburg and get some deeply amusing quotes. As a business magazine, they are great at the “What if it doesn’t work?” form of journalism. It’s a valuable exercise to question the success of an important enterprise. It’s also important to realize that at an early phase in any enterprise, there are going to be moments that will look like absolute failures.
If you viewed Tesla at the moment when Elon Musk was struggling to deliver a hundred Roadsters and extrapolated from there, you’d assume the company was a failure, and not the biggest EV automaker in history.
Volkswagen has had a hard time making autonomous products work, and has partnered with various companies. Remember Argo? It didn’t work. Instead, Volkswagen shifted to a deal with a Chinese company and with Intel-owned, Israel-based Mobileye. Let’s check in on that project, via Manager Magazin (translated):
Oliver Blume, casually dressed in a black T-shirt, jacket, and white sneakers, presents Volkswagen’s first autonomous production vehicle. This isn’t about what will happen in the 2030s, he emphasizes, but rather “about the present, the 2020s.”
Blume’s message is clear: With the ID.Buzz AD, Volkswagen is ushering in the autonomous future and positioning itself “at the forefront of a multi-billion dollar global growth market.” The VW subsidiary Moia offers a “turnkey solution”: autonomous mobility systems that they can easily put into operation. Hamburg’s Hochbahn and the Berlin public transport company have already taken the bait.
However, there’s a problem: Customers will have to wait. The production-ready vehicle is already here, but the most important piece is missing: the software that will enable the van to drive autonomously.
While there are test vehicles, it sounds from the article like there’s been a bit of a struggle with getting a full roadworthy version from Mobileye. Oh, right, Moia. Volkswagen is like Star Wars after being purchased by Disney; an endless number of spinoffs you can barely remember. Moia is the autonomous driving one (or one of the autonomous driving ones).
One of the benefits of the Mobileye-VW relationship is that, unlike Waymo, VW won’t be retrofitting existing vehicles but building technology into the vehicle. This should make the vehicles better and cheaper. However, the article implies that the tech isn’t quite up to par yet, with Rivian (another VW spinoff, sort of) dumping Mobileye in order to use its own system based on Nvidia chips.
The fact that the vehicle being used is an ID.Buzz is sort of sad, given what the ID.Buzz represents now: A great idea too delayed, too expensive, and too imperfect. There’s a risk that this could turn into yet another VW failure. Ok, one quick quote from former Waymo/Hyundai boss John Krafcik, who is always amusing:
“Volkswagen is arguably the automaker with the most failed autonomous partnerships, and Mobileye is probably the supplier with the most failed autonomous driving timelines,” summarizes John Krafcik (64), longtime head of the Google -founded robotaxi company Waymo. An alliance between the two is “a somewhat unfortunate constellation.” Any chance of success? “Unlikely.”
Never change, John.
Enter The Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA)
A lot of people in the United States only think of Huawei as the Chinese company that’s constantly getting into trouble with Western governments. In China, it’s a large part of the tech/cell/consumer ecosystem.
China has a bunch of legacy automakers that have, for the last few years, taken a backseat to the BYDs, NIOs, and Teslas of the world. Those companies are suddenly fighting back, and one of the big tools is HIMA. Whereas Apple was successful in entering the automotive space via CarPlay, its actual car never materialized.
Huawei’s approach is multifaceted, but one of them is a CarPlay-like system that also adds a suite of advanced driver systems. Here’s S&P Global Mobility explaining how that works:
HIMA is growing, with more partners and models. In late September, SAIC became the fifth automaker to join HIMA Huawei, following BAIC, Chery, JAC and Seres. Yu Chengdong, CEO of Huawei’s Consumer Business Group, introduced the Shangjie H5 and the 2026 AITO M7 models at HIMA’s Autumn New Product Launch Event on September 23.
Like other HIMA models, the H5 features Huawei’s Qiankun ADS 4 intelligent driving system and HarmonyOS smart cabin system, the two most appealing Huawei tech features to new car buyers. The H5 will also be showcased along with HIMA’s earlier launches at selected Huawei stores across mainland China.
HIMA is Huawei’s key platform to scale its smart EV business and connect directly with car buyers. The alliance now offers 10 electric models across five brands: AITO, Luxeed, Maextro, Shangjie and Stelato. Huawei and a mainland Chinese OEM partner to introduce each new brand: for example, AITO with Seres Group, Luxeed with Chery and Maextro with JAC.
Although Huawei doesn’t own these brands, consumers view HIMA Huawei models as “Huawei cars,” since the tech giant is perceived as the driving force behind their development.
This is what Apple should have tried.
Tesla And Rivian’s Good Quarters Lead To…
Tesla had a great third quarter as it pushed out a ton of vehicles ahead of the expiration of the tax credit. So did Rivian. What about the rest of the year?
It’s going to be tough, per Automotive News:
Rivian Automotive reported a 32 percent surge in third-quarter deliveries compared with a year earlier to 13,201 vehicles as U.S. buyers took advantage of the expiring federal EV tax credit.
But the Irvine, Calif., automaker cut the high end of its 2025 delivery outlook. Rivian adjusted the full-year forecast to between 41,500 and 43,500 vehicles from 40,000 to 46,000 previously.
Rivian shares were falling about 7 percent after its Oct. 2 sales report.
And here’s Bloomberg on Tesla:
Tesla Inc. shares fell after the automaker posted a record quarter of vehicle sales that will be difficult to replicate now that federal electric-car subsidies have expired.
The company delivered 497,099 vehicles worldwide in the most recent quarter, 7.4% more than a year ago. Although the total far exceeds the roughly 439,600 average analyst estimate compiled by Bloomberg, Tesla’s shares slumped Thursday following a record monthly gain in market capitalization.
The divergence illustrates how investor sentiment has become increasingly detached from Tesla’s core electric vehicle business, focused instead on the potential profit to be reaped by its still-developing robotaxi, artificial intelligence and robotics ventures, which Musk has said will drive company’s future market value.
Maybe Elon Musk’s pivot away from EVs was perfectly timed… or maybe he’s just spinning even more plates.
Hey, A Cheap Sierra EV Sells
I sometimes see a GMC Sierra EV, and I think it looks fantastic. I’m not sure about the effectiveness of shoving an unholy number of battery cells into a truck when, like, EREVs exist, but it’s still an extremely cool truck, and I do want to try it.
It hasn’t been a big seller, though it has had a lift recently. Other than expiring tax credits, how has GMC found more customers? Automotive News has a theory:
At Chevy, sales of the Equinox EV compact crossover were up 157 percent, while the Silverado EV full-size pickup nearly doubled. Sales of the Sierra EV rose to 3,374 from just 387 a year earlier on increased production of lower-priced configurations.
That’s the GMC Sierra Elevation, which gets about 283 miles of range, a lot of the features you’d want on a GMC truck, and still has that killer aesthetic. At about $65k, I think that’s something I’d rather have than a Cybertruck.
It’s almost like the EVs are too expensive.
What I’m Listening To While Writing TMD
I made a joke about CHVRCHES a few TMDs ago, and I’d just like to clarify that I am a CHVRCHES fan. Please enjoy “Recover.”
The Big Question
What is the best thing that VW does right now?
Top Photo: VW
Chvrches is amazing.
Does VW mean the Volkswagen brand, or Volkswagen AG in general? Because the Škoda Superb seem decent, especially in estate form
My wife said she thought the ID Buzz was cool. I said they will never sell many of them here in the US. I live on the coast in New England where we have tons of European cars (which I don’t see as much in the middle of the county) and I think I’ve only seen one.
In Los Angeles I have seen only one on the street. I’m amazed by this. I’ve seen more Lancia Beta Spiders than VW ID Buzzes.
They need to develop an ICE version of the Buzz if they want to create some buzz.
I keep thinking of Ferris: I asked for a car, I got a computer.
If it has to have a VW badge, than maybe I’d have a look at the Taigo, if I wanted a car like that. (I just realised now it’s like a Juke, for risk-averse people.)
The new Passat looks better on the road, than pictures suggest.
Their PHEVs seem to be quite interesting, with a Golf that has a real world EV range of about 60+ miles.
Volkswagen to America: and you get nothing! I think they looked at the stupid prices people are paying for old Vanagons etc and said me too. That mileage is criminal at that price, and the original face was 1000% better than the one they pasted on the Buzz. Now I have to get back to restoring my 86 Cabriolet, when VW actually made something I wanted
I have weird tastes in music. Youtube recommended a Swedish Band called “Royal Republic” and I’ve been listening to them a lot.
Happened to me as well
For these EVs, one only need to ask: are people using them as Uber vehicles?
Heck, they should be made for the USPS and used as local delivery.
The GTI and Golf R were great, then they killed the manual.
Sidebar, I rode in a waymo this weekend and it was so much nicer than a regular uber.
I got a ride from the volunteer hospital transport srevice yesterday ( eye surgery follow-up, driving not permitted ) The guy turned up in a Urus !
That’s a nice way to get out of the hospital. But don’t give David, Torch or Mercedes any ideas. Imagine just getting released from the hospital and being wheeled into one of the many fungi-infused cars that are a part of the Autopian fleet.
Yes there are bad ideas, such as using a Lamborghini that belongs to your son in law (who is on holiday and has no idea that this happened although the hundred and forty mile round trip might take some explaining) as a hospital taxi. There are worse ideas, you just had one of them.
It was hilarious though, in quite big storm, a line of Nissan Quashys and Vauxhall whatever they are all queued up, outsidde a hospital in Newcastle on Tyne, I was able to find my designated driver with no problems. The eye searing dayglow green and the engine revving up a bit really helped. The driver explained, he had similar surgery some years ago. And he wants to play with the traction engines.
I’m not sure I’d go as far as saying that they “gave in” to the EV hype, so much as they used the EV hype to try to fix their image as Dieselgate played out, and also as a legal remedy for it.
“What is the best thing that VW does right now?”
In all of VAG? I’d say it’s probably a tie between Porsche 911 and the Taycan.
If it’s just the VW brand? I’d say it’s probably the VW Golf.
Eventually VW will get good with their BEVs… particularly with their software partnership with Rivian.
I do like me some CHVRCHES.
The front end design for GM’s trucks continues to get worse and worse. Yes, it looks better than a Cybertruck, but it’s still awful.
I’ve never had VW’s ketchup, but I bet it’s good.
I really like the look and layout of the ID Buzz (biased Vanagon owner here) and could live with the range but the price needs to be $40-50k max. I hope to buy one someday for under $10k.
When there’s finally a big battery tech breakthrough will everyone be kicking these old EVS to the curb like CRTs?
Yes, which is part of why I am not in any hurry to buy one. If I had a use case, I would lease and never buy.
I predict there’s going to be a big hobby scene/garage industry of picking up depleted EVs for cheap and swapping out the batteries to solid-ceramic-unobtanium whatevers and replacing the CPUs with some kind of aftermarket solution within the next decade or so. Basically a digital LS swap for cars with munted batteries or bricked computers.
Hopefully, and then there will be retrofit kits to put the new batteries into them. I’d love a cheap ID Buzz as a city runabout/parts hauler
I sometimes like to make grand predictions (I’m almost always wrong). Here’s a doozie:
25% of the cars on the road will be fully autonomous before 0.1% of homes have a humanoid robot. The upshot of this is that Tesla will go bankrupt because of the idiotic robot Musky dream. Why will the robot dream fail? Because if you think ramming barriers at full speed while inside a safety structure with airbags will hurt or kill you, just wait until an actuator mount breaks and instantly releases a 100 Lb. Ft. of torque onto your child’s head. Or a cosmic ray flips a single bit and a powerful machine does something unexpected in proximity to you. There are countless edge cases that cannot be safely ignored no matter how delusional you are.
I completely agree! Another issue is the value proposition. Adding a few hundred dollars of equipment (and charging a couple grand) to make a car drive itself makes sense. People will pay that much for better speakers, some will certainly pay for that. A humanoid robot likely costs as much as a car, and is total incremental to my budget. What does it do that makes it worth $30k or however much it costs? Most everything I can think of are things like cleaning, that I can already pay real people to do for much less. It might be helpful in some workplace contexts like loading/unloading trucks I guess.
I see a Sierra EV, and I think “why is it so large”? A friend rented one once, and parking it was ridiculous.
Maybe, maybe not. What do their political contributions look like? They may very well have had a direct hand in this current shitshow. Just like many other people who are currently suffering the consequences of their own actions.
LOFL. That’s like if Henry Ford built a Model T rolling chassis and said it was production ready, if only someone would develop the internal combustion engine to power it. Except development of the ICE was far more likely than the development of workable self-driving software.
That’s not saying much. I’d rather have food poisoning than a Cybertruck.
<3 CHVRCHES. That is all.
It’s just a color, but that desaturated metallic purple on the Chinese sedan pictured above is lovely. 🙂 Is it also matte finish?
I’ve seen a few IDBuzzes around LA and my reaction is ‘meh.’ If they were somehow significantly cheaper than they are, I’d find them much more interesting. I know they make a commercial/cargo version of the short wheelbase one in Europe: I’d probably like that better.
I still wouldn’t buy ANY new VW product unless/until I could confirm that they’re no longer using that brittle white plastic for their power window regulator brackets… the ones that fail a few months after the warranty expires, dropping the glass into the door and then requiring an expensive 100+ step repair.
I also saw (I think) one of those new Kia full size EV vans: the EV9 maybe is what they call it? It had a bunch of self-driving stuff bolted onto it, and was a light blue/purple in color and I liked it. At least I think it was the Kia EV9… there were some logos on it, but I was going the other way on Sunset in east Hollywood, and didn’t get more than a glance.
ID say the Buzz is wearing off. Fortunately the range is short enough the bad trip won’t last long.
What a short, expensive trip it’s been.
My wife wanted an ID.Buzz so much, and then they came out costing ~$70k. Sad trombone. Now she wants a used ID.Buzz that’s depreciated all the way.
Yeah, I just wonder if enough with sell at $70+k to make it possible to find one on the used market.
Judging by how many I’ve seen here in the PNW, especially compared to other electric cars, the answer will be no.
“Volkswagen is like Star Wars after being purchased by Disney“
Well that explains the ad campaign with C-3PO and R2-D2.
The real issue here is VW’s departure from being dependablity forward to being technology forward. This happened long ago but never really stuck. Mainly because they never quite stick the landing.
Maybe if they had the gumption to really go against the grain with small low-tech EVs like they did with air-cooled cars in the 60s, people would take notice.
So why do EV pickups need that big hood in the way of seeing what’s in front of you?
The same reason why the buyer needs a pickup.
Beer?
Beer.
Fill your frunk with beer.
Our local dealership is a combined VW/Hyundai dealership. When customers come in for a VW, they are quickly and efficiently introduced to the closest Hyundai alternative. Shockingly sparse VW parts on hand. Even VW service customers get the treatment. The few VW new models on hand are prominently displayed, but seem indefinitely for sale.
Wow. Never thought I’d see the day.
That’s like the Kamen Rider W of bad customer service!