More than four years after the debut of the ID. Buzz, iconic German automaker Volkswagen has finally debuted its first fully electric campervan, the ID. California Cruise, based on the ID. Buzz and billed as the first of a new all-electric California family.
The ID. California Cruise was unveiled at the 2026 Caravan Salon in Germany late last week, finally delivering on the dreams of many who have been longing for an actual camper version of the ID. Buzz.
The ID. Buzz quickly built upon the decades’ long success of the Volkswagen Transporter, also known as the Volkswagen Kombi or Bulli, which became an icon of the 1960s, and the Volkswagen California, a campervan based on the Transporter that was unveiled in 1988, and which became home for travelling thousands.
Volkswagen says the ID. California Cruise is a “concrete response” to the demands of “markets, the media, and camping enthusiasts”.
It is set to launch first in Germany early next year, and the ID. California Cruise features a sleeping accommodation for two with a 2-metre-long bed and a newly developed 9cm-thick folding comfort mattress.
It will be available with either the short or long wheelbase of the ID. Buzz, and comes with added standard equipment including an “Interior Style” and “Comfort” packages and the “PowerSocket” discharge adapter for vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality, which supports continuous output of up to 2,000 watts and a peak output of 3.6 kW.
Additional features include ventilation grilles for the front side windows, blackout blinds for all windows, two camping chairs and a camping table, and an optional panoramic glass roof which comes with a matching blackout blind.
The California Cruise also comes with a specific California mode that has been specifically developed for camping which, using an additional control unit, enables selected lighting and comfort functions to be adjusted, powers USB ports with continuous power, and prepares the vehicle’s interior for the night.
The climate control can also heat or cool the interior and maintain comfortable sleeping temperatures for up to 48 hours continuously (depending on the battery’s state of charge and the difference between the interior and exterior temperatures).
Electric trip functions will also be added to the California App, which highlights suitable charging stations as part of jouny planning.
The ID. Buzz California Cruise lineup will be expanded by 2028, but the first model to launch early next year will start from €60,761 (which converts to around $A98,000 at time of writing).
Sign up for The Driven’s free daily newsletter and get the latest EV news and analysis delivered straight to your inbox.
