Volkswagen has been serious about its vans since the T1 microbus took the world by storm in 1949. Now, it is preparing for the launch of the seventh generation of its Transporter line, which will be presented to the world for the first time in the spring of 2024. In a new teaser video, VW explains that the new Transporter will take its place next to the multifaceted, all-electric ID.Buzz and the Multivan, which is designed for families and leisure.
By contrast, the Transporter will be all
business, serving the needs of commercial vehicle operators across Europe. VW
says it’s aiming to make the van “the right one for everyone.” That translates
into offering a variety of propulsion options, including all-electric, plug-in
hybrid, and diesel powertrains. In addition, the automaker boasts that the
range of Transporter variants will be “huge”, and will include panel vans in
two lengths and heights, a dropside truck with a double-cab, a Kombi, and a
Caravelle shuttle bus for hauling many passengers at once.
Volkswagen has yet to reveal
specifications for the seventh generation Transporter, but we do know that it
will be closely related to the Ford Transit/Tourney Custom, with which it shares
underpinnings, as a result of the alliance between the two brands. Earlier spy
shots of the vehicle testing showed that the bodies of the two vans will be
quite similar, albeit with a differentiated grille to distinguish the two
vehicles. VW Commercial Vehicles’ CEO is quite confident that his brand’s
vehicle will be better, boldly claiming that even Ford thought they did a
better job.
Any commercial van operators who agree can
put their money down, soon, as Volkswagen says that pre-sales of the new van
are set to begin before the end of 2023 in Germany.
