We Shipped The First ID. Buzz Camper in North America
Lori, Phil, Sabrina and some of the PV ID. Buzz team
For almost 15 years, Peace Vans has been working away on classic VW campers in Seattle, WA. Over that time we’ve worked on thousands of old VWs, passionately keeping dreams alive and folks on the road. During those years, one of the most frequently asked questions we would get was some form of “When is VW going to bring a modern version of our beloved campers back to the US?”. For years, we had no answer to this, but in 2017 we began working with Mercedes-Benz to build a modern version of a classic VW camper (pop top and all) - albeit on a Mercedes platform (the Metris) as VW had no vehicle in the US we could build on.
Just about this time last year, Volkswagen took concrete steps toward making the U.S. debut of the ID. Buzz a reality. For years, they’d been teasing the successor to the classic VW Bus—starting all the way back at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show. There were plenty of updates over the years, including a very cool prototype that retraced the Nike VW Bus’s journey across America. While the ID. Buzz gained traction in Europe, we weren’t sure it would ever cross the Atlantic. So when we finally got the official word—it was game on, and we were pumped.
In April 2024, we were lucky enough to be invited by VW to attend the New York Auto Show, where the U.S.-spec long-wheelbase ID. Buzz would be unveiled. We flew across the country, crawled all over the vehicle, took measurements, photos, notes—lots of notes—and left feeling genuinely excited about what we saw. We were smitten.
At the NYC Auto Show, April 2024
Without a vehicle to work with, our design work had to start with something simple and accessible. So we began with a product vision focused on turning the ID. Buzz into a camper with minimal effort—thus, our Rear Kitchen Box and optional Sleeper Unit were born. We knew a full camper build would require serious hands-on time with a van, and with no delivery date in sight, we doubled down on building the absolute best rear kitchen system we could.
If you follow the outdoor vehicle space, you know there are literally dozens—if not hundreds—of rear kitchen box setups for all kinds of vehicles, in an overwhelming mix of configurations, price points, and quality levels. We looked at a few. None met the quality bar we expect from ourselves, and none were designed specifically for the ID. Buzz. So we made the obvious choice: we built our own. And we made it exceptional—not just in quality and functionality, but in form. It fits the ID. Buzz like it was born there. Nearly 50 units in, the feedback is loud and clear: this is the best kitchen box on the market.
With the Kitchen Box dialed in, we turned to the bigger goal: a full camper conversion for the ID. Buzz. Still without a van in-house, we built a life-sized Buzz replica out of plywood in our shop. (Yes, really.) We also sent a team member to Europe to live, camp, and explore in one of the rare Buzz campers over there. Between that real-world insight, our mock-up, and increasing public information from VW, we began prototyping what would become our Full Camper build.
Over the next four months, our team poured heart and soul into this thing. Ironically, building in small spaces—like the Buzz, as opposed to big Sprinters—is much harder. There are a million tradeoffs, tons of OEM trim to navigate, and far less space to work with. But we’re not new to this. In fact, we’d argue (pretty confidently) that no team in the U.S. has more experience building compact campers than Peace Vans. We understand the tradeoffs. We know how to optimize every inch without sacrificing comfort or style.
Our guiding design principle was simple: it had to be beautiful. The camper van and RV space is cluttered with low-quality builds. Sure, there’s great work out there—but so much of it is, well, crap. Peace Vans has always held itself to a higher standard. Our products are more expensive, but if you care about fit and finish, attention to detail, and premium materials—we're your shop.
And for the ID. Buzz, that means:
Baltic birch cabinetry with hidden joinery
Richlite countertops
Dometic water system
Goal Zero power hub
Custom-made cushions and seats
Perfectly fitted window covers
...and a million other carefully considered details
The result? A small-format camper van that’s a cozy place to sleep, a peaceful spot to work on the road, a chillout zone while you’re charging—and a whole lot more.
On Friday, June 13, we shipped our very first full camper build. While we’d built and tested multiple prototypes, there’s nothing quite like handing the keys to a real customer. After years of working on VW campers—including maintaining vans that are more than 50 years old—it’s such a privilege to be part of this next generation with the ID. Buzz. Delivery day was emotional. We reminisced with Lori and Phil (hi, Sabrina!) about the very first Mercedes Metris camper we built seven years ago (Hello Jack Hoag!), and the 1,000+ we’ve shipped since. We can't wait to build 1,000 more Buzz campers and see them hit the road.
What’s next for us? We are busy bees over here with a summer and fall full of Kitchen Box building, Full Camper builds and getting ready for the pop top in late Q4 of 2025. Be sure to follow us on social media for all the latest updates, find out where to see a Peace Vans ID. Buzz in the wild (the Kitchen Box units are at an increasing number of dealers around the country - view the list here), and hear first hand from our customers.
– Harley