The electric version based on Volkswagen’s iconic Kombi, the ID.Buzz. has landed in South Africa. But not for the consumer market.

ID.Buzz
L-R: Thomas Milz, Director of Sales and Marketing, VWSA & Jed Michaletos, MD, DHL Express South Africa

VW Commercial Vehicles and DHL Express are running a pilot test of the ID.Buzz for the courier company’s cargo fleet.

According to both companies, four ID.Buzz Cargo units will be placed at the DHL Express Service Centres in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban for six months.

The units will be used for specialised last-mile delivery service part of DHL’s local pilot test of its global zero emissions logistics target, said both companies in a joint media release.

“The introduction of the ID.Buzz Cargo test fleet is an effort towards the realisation of Volkswagen Group South Africa’s electric vehicles strategy for the Volkswagen brand in South Africa.”

VW hopes that the test fleet will help it build awareness of its EVs in SA and will use key finding for its strategy in the market. VW also ran limited tests with the e-Golf EV for the same reason, a couple of years ago. Recharged, formerly Wired to the Web, had the opportunity to drive it for a month:

I drove the e-Golf for a month

Thomas Milz, Director of Sales and Marketing at VWSA, says its partnership with DHL Express on the ID.Buzz Cargo test fleet marks the beginning of Volkswagen’s long-term plan to gradually introduce its electric vehicles in the local market.

“At the end of the pilot test, we hope to have gathered sufficient information and insights on the readiness of the local market for the introduction of a commercial electric vehicle such as the ID.Buzz Cargo. We are very excited to partner with DHL who shares a similar commitment of zero emissions by 2050 in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement.”

Jed Michaletos – MD, DHL Express South Africa says it has a responsibility to set an example in its industry and be a sustainability leader.

“DHL Express has committed to achieving zero emission by 2050 through a number of initiatives, one of which is ensuring that we have at least 60% electric vehicles for last-mile deliveries by 2030. We are excited to partner with VWSA to pilot their ID. Buzz in our South African operations,” says Michaletos.