Volkswagen ID. Buzz Earns Spot On TIME's 2024 Best Inventions List For Innovative Design

Published: Thursday, October 31, 2024, 0:51 [IST]

Volkswagen of America, Inc. has announced that the new ID. Buzz has been included in TIME's 2024 list of Best Inventions. This list highlights 200 innovations that are transforming our lives. TIME gathered nominations from editors and correspondents globally and through an online application process, focusing on emerging fields like healthcare, AI, and green energy.

The ID. Buzz is set to launch for the 2025 model year with three trims available. Customers can choose between rear-wheel-drive or 4Motion® all-wheel-drive options. The vehicle offers three rows of seats, accommodating up to seven passengers, and provides ample space for both people and cargo.

Volkswagen ID. Buzz Named One of TIME's Best Inventions

All models come equipped with a 91-kWh battery. The rear-wheel-drive version delivers 282 horsepower and an EPA-estimated range of 234 miles. Meanwhile, the 4Motion® model boasts 335 horsepower with an EPA-estimated range of 231 miles. The starting price is $59,995 MSRP.

Andrew Savvas, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for Volkswagen Brand North American Region, expressed excitement about reintroducing the iconic Microbus as an electric vehicle in America. "The ID. Buzz is about so much more than getting from point A to point B," he stated. "With its combination of retro looks and modern technology, it creates more smiles per mile on every journey."

TIME evaluated each invention based on originality, efficacy, ambition, and impact. Their editors noted: "The result is a list of 200 groundbreaking inventions (and 50 special mention inventions)—including the world's largest computer chip, a humanoid robot joining the workforce, and a bioluminescent houseplant—that are changing how we live, work, play, and think about what’s possible."

Volkswagen's Presence in America

Volkswagen of America operates as part of Volkswagen Group of America under Volkswagen AG's umbrella. Based in Reston, Virginia, it sells various models like Atlas and Jetta through over 600 independent U.S. dealers. Their Chattanooga facility produces vehicles such as the Atlas Cross Sport and ID.4.

The global Volkswagen Group ranks among the largest passenger car producers worldwide and leads as Europe's biggest automaker.

The information provided here includes preliminary vehicle specifications subject to change. Features apply to U.S.-offered models but may differ elsewhere. Prices exclude destination fees, taxes, title costs, accessories installation charges, other options costs, or dealer fees; dealers set actual prices.

Fuel economy values are EPA estimates; actual mileage varies based on factors like driving habits or vehicle condition.