Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is currently turning heads at the trade fair in Düsseldorf with the ID. California Cruise, Volkswagen’s long-awaited fully electric camper van, featuring specially developed camping equipment. Based on the rear-wheel-drive ID. Buzz Pro, the recreational electric vehicle is available with either a short or long wheelbase. The first deliveries of the fully electric ID. California Cruise are planned for early 2027, with additional California models set to follow by 2028.
The California brand has its roots in 1988, when the German carmaking giant first introduced a motorhome based on the VW Bus, the VW California. Several generations of camper vans followed. These iconic vans have become known as the Eurovan in North America, or a transporter or camper van in Europe and the UK, while other territories call it a combi van. These different names illustrate the popularity of these vehicles, named to describe a lifestyle as much as the vehicle. The official Volkswagen title “California” evolved from a model name into an independent lifestyle and motorhome brand within Volkswagen.
The vehicle on display in Düsseldorf is the first California based on an electric platform. It is designed so “the new vehicle brings the freedom, flexibility and everyday practicality of the California into the age of electric mobility,” as described by its maker, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles (VWN). The starting price is set at €60,761 for the short-wheelbase ID. California Cruise. The price for the long-wheelbase version has not yet been announced, but it is clear that the extended equipment is reflected in the cost. The camping variant always includes the Interior Style Package, the Comfort Package, and the PowerSocket as a discharge adapter for the vehicle-to-load function as standard. These packages are optional extras for the standard ID. Buzz.
