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Volkswagen’s official showcase for its upcoming 2025 all electric VW ID. Buzz bus is currently in Las Vegas and carries very similar attributes to the original Microbus. The new bus is currently on display at Volkwagen’s ‘Dead Forever Experience,’ located at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas. The experience pays tribute to VW’s long intertwined history with Grateful Dead and its fans and affords visitors the ability to revisit the car’s history, deepen their understanding of its influence on music and fandom in the 70s and how the newest electric model pays homage to a continued, fan-driven ethos for cultivating resistance and being an arbiter of continuous, positive change.
A Brief History of the Original VW Microbus
The origin of the VW bus began in 1947 when a Dutch importer for Volkswagen became intrigued by re-worked versions of VW Beetle that were being used to transport parts throughout VW car factories. Inspired to create a consumer forward vehicle with a more utilitarian design, he began working on a larger model than the Beetle, that would allow for the transport of bulk items and groups of passengers — thus the idea for the first VW bus was born.
A short three years later, the first VW bus model was rolled out at the same factory. By the time the design was in full production, several body styles had been built, all of which were adjusted versions the inspired importer’s original sketch.
A fascinating hit among consumers, by the end of the 1950s, the VW bus had became synonymous with beach goer culture in the United States. Fit for its original intention, the bus allowed drivers to easily stack and store surfboards along with other beach necessities on its top rails while still having enough room to pack the interior full of friends and family.
After the start of the Vietnam war, the bus that previously supported a indulgent beach lifestyle had quickly evolved to being a multi-purpose vehicle that also easily towed similar sized groups to anti-war demonstrations and protests. As seen in movies with historical references for this era (see: Jenny from Forrest Gump, below) VW’s van became as much of an expected figure amongst counterculture movements and events as did the “hippies” of the time did themselves.
Later, the VW bus would also be used to transport black students to school in still segregated southern states.
Within just a few short years, the VW bus cemented itself as a crucial figure of both political and social history — closely allied with lovers of leisure, community, music, equality and peace. These virtues have long been allegiant with Grateful Dead fans in both life and within their music communities.
When Jerry Garcia, founder and lead guitar for Grateful Dead, passed away in 1995, VW paid tribute to their mutual and longstanding relationship, acknowledging the impact the band had on the VW buses’ earliest eras, by running an ad with a single tear falling from one of the Microbus’ headlights.
Where To See ‘Dead Forever Experience’ and VW ID. Buzz in Vegas
Just like the ID. Buzz harks back to the original Volkswagen Microbus, Dead & Co has too continued the Grateful Dead’s unmatched legacy. Both of which will continue to introduce their unique and nostalgic experiences to new audiences in years to come. As Volkswagen celebrates its 75th anniversary in America this year, the brand saw it as a fitting opportunity to connect with the fans who onced nurtured continue to celebrate their coexisting relationship.
The zero-tailpipe emitting ID. Buzz transfers the design of one of the greatest vehicular icons — the T1 Microbus — to the increasingly relevant and present era of electric mobility. It’s short overhangs, spacious interior and available two-tone color palette pay homage to the past, while the high-tech interior, progressive design features, and EV technology marks it uniquely as a vehicle both from the past that has been strategically rebuilt for the future.
The ‘Dead Forever Experience’ with a in person preview of the VW ID. Buzz, will be open to the public at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, through the end of the Dead & Co residency at the Sphere. The last show is set to play on August 10th so there is still time to grab a flight and tickets to see Dead & Company, a spinoff of the original Grateful Dead, this Summer.
The three-row, U.S. edition of the VW ID. Buzz will be available for consumer purchase at over 600 dealers as soon as December, 2024.
