Report: VW Microbus production could resume

Volkswagen ceased Brazilian production of the VW Kombi in 2013 due to concerns over the vehicle’s lack of safety features widely available as far back as 30 years ago. The Land Rover Defender’s importation to the US ceased for similar reasons, but Guido Mantega, Brazil’s Finance Minister, is presenting the argument that despite the case that the car could be less safe without features such as anti-lock brakes and airbags, it was never designed to have them in the first place and that a newer model from VW’s long line of Transporter vehicles (such as the Eurovan) would be far to expensive to introduce to the Brazilian economy.

Since 1969, the German automaker had produced the van, which has been among the best selling commercial vehicles in Brazil for the past several years. The most recent variant is powered by the 1.4 liter Total Flex engine, which runs on either gasoline or ethanol and produces 80 horsepower. Akin to the Ford Transit throughout the UK and much of Europe, the Kombi is a favorite among small business owners and trades people. The Brazilian government may make a decision on the fate of this vehicle in the coming weeks.

– By: Sawyer Sutton

Source: AutoWeek

Sawyer Sutton

Sawyer Sutton is a long-time Vermonter and lover of cars, big machinery, and photography. These are his words on cars as Senior Editor of egmCarTech.

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