Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is celebrating 75 years of the VW Bus. It is the commercial vehicle with the longest production run in Europe. On 8 March 1950, the first Transporter – or T1 for short – left the production line in Wolfsburg. Since then, more than 12.5 million VW Buses have followed – produced in Hanover from 1956. This makes it the most successful European commercial vehicle of all time. It has already been a cult vehicle for many years. From the T1 to the sixth generation T6.1, one platform always provided the basis for all derivatives – from vans to camper van icons. But the era of electric mobility necessitated a transformation of the all-rounder and thus a paradigm shift: ‘One VW Bus for all’ therefore became ‘The right VW Bus for everyone’. The current Multivan marked the start of a new era in 2021 – a van designed for leisure and work, available for the first time with an optional plug-in hybrid drive. The first all-electric VW Bus in large-scale production followed in 2022 with the ID. Buzz. In 2025, the new Transporter product line is launching as the third model series. The current VW Bus range thus consists of three pillars with six base models: the Multivan and California, the ID. Buzz and the ID. Buzz Cargo commercial vehicle, as well as the Transporter and Caravelle shuttle version. They all carry the DNA of the multifunctional T1 in their design and layout to this day.
Autobrief Snippets
- The first Transporter – T1 for short – went into production on 8 March 1950. It has since become the most successful commercial vehicle with the longest production run in Europe to date.
- The first VW Bus of 1950 has now become three product lines in 2025: the Transporter/Caravelle, Multivan/California and ID. Buzz/ID. Buzz Cargo.
- Production of the T2 started in the Hanover plant in 1967. Its wide range of variants and robust properties made it a worldwide success.
- In 1979, the third generation of the Transporter was pioneering in terms of technology. Catalytic converter, turbodiesel and all-wheel drive were used on the T3 for the first time.
- By switching to front-mounted engines and front-wheel drive, the T4 built between 1990 and 2004 made VW Bus history with extraordinary spaciousness
- The design of the T5 introduced in 2003 is considered a milestone. Limited models in particular are already in collectors’ hands today – just 10 years after its replacement.
- With the T6 (from 2015) and T6.1 (from 2019), the VW Bus became more comfortable and digital than ever before in all versions.