Volkswagen Microbus production could resume in Brazil

The Volkswagen Type 2 Kombi/Microbus may be a classic to our eyes, but it has been in continuous production in Brazil for almost 50 years. Impending legislation that would outlaw the production and importation of cars and trucks without modern safety features such as ABS brakes and airbags was set to put an end to the Kombi production in Brazil, but one lawmaker wants to make an exception for the veteran vehicle, Indian Autos Blog reports.

Brazil's finance minister Guido Mantega is arguing that since the Kombi/Microbus has been in production for decades -- before ABS technology and airbags were developed -- it would be unfair to apply the new law to the vehicle. Adding of safety tech like ABS brakes and airbags would not be a simple matter; the Microbus has not been designed with airbags in mind and simply installing them into the dash and steering wheel could do more harm than good. ABS brakes could be fitted to the Microbus, as Bosch and other parts manufacturers make such systems, but the new Brazilian legislation mandates both ABS brakes and airbags. For airbags to become a reality the entire front of the vehicle would likely have to be redesigned, at which point it would almost be simpler to bring a modern Volkswagen Transporter to Brazil. That vehicle costs much more than the Kombi.

Volkswagen
The Brazilian-market Kombi features a more modern 1.4-luter engine which can run both on gasoline or ethanol.

Volkswagen of Brazil has just finished building a limited edition dubbed the Kombi Last edition, a 600-car run that features an exclusive white over blue paint scheme, blue curtains, whitewall tires, and blue vinyl upholstery. Even though Brazil's version of the Kombi/Microbus has remained relatively unchanged inside and out, since 2006 it has been powered by a 80-hp 1.4-liter Total Flex engine that can run both on gasoline or ethanol, which is a popular fuel in the country.

The fact that the Kombi remains the sixth best selling commercial vehicle in Brazil for the past few years might earn it a reprieve as many people and small businesses still rely on Kombi, which has been in production in Brazil since 1969. The Kombi's fate will be decided in the next few weeks.

By Jay Ramey