Volkswagen camper vans make a grand return to the US market

Seattle’s Peace Vans has built a brand around its love of classic Volkswagen campers, so it’s no surprise to see the company jumping out of the gate with all guns blazing as the official American ID. Buzz launch approaches. After all, the Buzz will be the first new VW van available on the American market in 22 years. Peace Vans is officially welcoming you with three camping packages, ranging from an expandable tailgate kitchen to a fully equipped mini-RV with a kitchen, bed, and dinette.

Knowing Peace Vans’ history, it’s no surprise that it’s the first US campervan converter to announce an all-electric camper (or three) based on the ID. Company founder Harley Sitner has been lamenting the loss of VW Transporter vans and campers in the US market ever since he first heard the news, and he’s been doing his best to fill the void.

In 2013, Sitner, a former Microsoft executive, took over a Seattle-area Volkswagen garage and transformed Peace Vans into a classic VW van and camper repair, restoration, and rental business. A few years later, Peace introduced its own Westy-inspired pop-top camper in the Mercedes-Benz Metris, the only German midsize van available in the U.S. at the time. The company was also the conversion partner for the official Mercedes-Benz USA pop-top camper: the innovative but short-lived Metris Weekender.

So is an all-new, all-electric Volkswagen minivan coming to the U.S.? There’s no way Peace Vans would be relegated to second place in releasing a camping product for this one.

“The biggest question we’ve been asked since the early days of Peace Vans has been, ‘Where are the new VW versions of the old VW Campers?’” Sitner said. “We were lucky enough to visit some early pre-production units and decided to put in the effort to build completely new conversions from the ground up, optimized for the ID.Buzz.”

In fact, Peace today announced three separate camper products that it plans to fit to its ID. Buzz vans later this year. The most comprehensive of the camper packages is the Buzz Camper, a complete interior conversion that’s laid out in a slightly different way to anything we’ve seen in mainland Europe or the UK.

Peace is advancing its layout beyond the opposing sidewall sofa/kitchen floor plan that became a staple of early ID. Buzz camper designs create a larger L-shaped rear sofa that converts into a double bed. This provides a larger living room and dining area, and also allows the bed to extend across the width of the cabin, providing a larger, more comfortable twin bed experience than is possible in caravans with a kitchen that takes up sidewall space.

This layout seems to optimize sleeping space and overall elbow room, but it does force Peace Vans to squeeze a small galley between the front end of the couch and the driver’s seat. It certainly doesn’t look like the most comfortable space for daily meal prep, but it does offer a fold-out countertop that extends out from the driver’s side sliding door for a bit more workspace.

A slide-out compartment or two would have been better for this kitchen design, but we assume those cooking at the campsite could bring a portable stove or grill and folding table for more cooking space.

For now, the Peace Buzz Camper is strictly a two-person model, as Peace will remove all rear seats to make room for interior upholstery, but he says a DOT-approved rear-seat solution is in development to accommodate more passengers.

Even better news is that Peace Vans has confirmed that it’s working on an ID. Buzz pop-top roof that will be available in late 2025. Customers of the first three Buzz camper models that want the pop-top roof will be given a spot in the preferred queue to have it added when it’s ready.

Peace Vans will release Buzz Camper pricing in Q3 2024. Those who don’t want to walk away empty-handed at the pricing department (including us) are getting a consolation prize: Prices for two other Peace Vans ID. Buzz camper products are included in today’s announcement.

The range starts at $7,995 for the Buzz Box, Peace’s most basic camping kit. This component is what Peace calls a custom chef’s kitchen, and it looks perfect for simple picnics or pairing with a tent on camping trips. It requires the removal of the third-row seating, but allows the second row to remain in place.

Peace Vans didn’t reveal the exact specifications of the Buzz Box, but it’s clear from the renderings that the multi-slide outdoor kitchen was designed around Dometic components—the logo even appears atop the 35-L CFX3 refrigerator. That means customers can expect one or two 11-L HYD water canisters feeding Dometic’s magnetic-mount electric faucet. The renderings also show a sink built into its own drawer, a single-burner stove, and plenty of counter space and storage.

The mid-level Buzz Sleeper set is essentially the Buzz Box paired with a fold-down bed. The bed is carried on the trunk lid and then extends over the folded second-row seats, promising a nearly queen-sized sleeping area. Retail price: $10,995.

In addition to beginning assembly and delivery of three camper kits for customer-owned vans in November 2024, Peace Vans plans to stock its own limited-edition ID. Buzz fleet so customers can order turnkey campers with any of the above-mentioned kits pre-assembled and ready to go. It will also offer ID. Buzz camper rentals so travelers can experience electric VW van life without having to buy outright, and will provide partial payment credits to those who decide to lease and purchase their own Peace Buzz camper.

ID. Buzz camper reservations and rental requests begin today via the Peace Vans website.

As for the base van, the 2025 VW ID. Buzz is still on track to hit dealerships this year. As you may recall, the American van will be offered only in the long-wheelbase three-row size, with 282-horsepower RWD and 335-horsepower 4Motion AWD, each with a 91-kWh battery pack. Official EPA-estimated range and pricing for the three U.S. trims (Pro S, Pro S Plus, and 1st Edition) will be announced closer to launch.

Source: Peace Vans