Will "The People’s Car” (Volkswagen) die an ugly death at the hands of The People’s Republic of China’s cars?

Photo above - Which one is cooler? Which one stickers for 30X more? Which one will take WAAAY longer to top off?

The original VW microbus (with its 23 windows) cost around $2,000 USD. The new VW ID “Buzz” costs $59,995 – PLUS a $1,500 destination fee. You’re Fuggenschitten me, right? 30 times as much? In any case, VW is closing assembly lines in Germany. Something it’s NEVER done. Because of affordable Chinese EVs. See link below.

If your heart is absolutely set on a VW EV, be advised you can get one of a generic looking ID4 sedan for $39,775 (plus $1,500 destination fee). That’s the base model. The nicer ID 4 trims can cost as much as $53,85 (plus $1,500). But be forewarned, the top trim has 40 miles LESS range than the base model. What the fugg?

Even if you ARE willing to pay $60,000 Plus for the “Buzz”, you can’t just yet. But the Buzz is definitely coming before Christmas. The original reveal was at the 2017 Geneva auto show. So, it’s 7 years on. This is as bad as the Tesla Cybertruck, no?

To be fair, the VW Buzz IS pretty cool looking. It’s the anti-Chevy Suburban or Ford Expedition. But priced about the same, with full options. You’ll probably save $150 a month in fuel by picking kilowatts instead of 87 octane, so there’s that. Buzz insurance will probably be higher, because the onboard lithium-ion reactor core is VERY expensive to replace after a crash.

How much does it cost to close a VW factory on German soil? We don’t know – it’s never been done before. The factory's capital expense and amortization are all over and done with, probably. It pain will just be thousands of workers getting early retirement buyouts, or unemployment benefits. Germany is a bit like France and the UK . . . there are complicated regulations about advance notification of closures, and fines if those displaced workers aren't sent to another assembly line.

This MIGHT happen in the US too, although it’s not my purpose today to specifically predict that. But Ford DID cancel one of their own EV assembly lines this summer. And their giant EV battery factory. The VW ID 4 - available now - is one of the worst rated electric cars sold in America. The only ones below it are the Chevy Bolt and Nissan Leaf. Are we finished evaluating the Cybertruck yet?

If you're able to resist buying the $70,000 VW Buzz “launch model” right away, savings might be possible by this time next year, I’m guessing you’ll be able to score a mid-level-trim version ($55K) for about 15-20% below sticker. Whether there will still be a $1,500 “destination fee” is an open question.

I’m just sayin’ . . .

‘A very serious situation’: Volkswagen could close plants in Germany for the first time in history (msn.com)