The ultimate campervan? 2022 Volkswagen Crafter California coming soon: Australian-designed and -engineered home-on-wheels to join expanded range

Volkswagen Australia is preparing to launch its own locally designed and engineered addition to its California range of campers based on its biggest model, the long-wheelbase Crafter.

The company already offers the Transporter-based California and recently introduced the Caddy California, campervans that have proven popular locally. However, Volkswagen Australia wants to take things to the next level, and while the Transporter and Caddy models are available directly from the European factory, there is no Crafter alternative.

At the same time, Volkswagen Australia’s local commercial vehicle conversion program, which allows buyers to customise the Caddy, Transporter, Crafter and Amarok for specific needs, such as ambulances, has given it the confidence and flexibility to go it alone.

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“We’ve been working with a local converter to build a full-size, self-contained campervan built off the Crafter long-wheelbase 4Motion - which itself is a unique proposition in this market,” explained Nick Reid, Volkswagen Australia commercial vehicles product and marketing manager.

Mr Reid confirmed the new model will be created entirely in Australia, with all design and manufacturing carried out here by the local camper specialists, which he can’t reveal ahead of the launch. Mr Reid did confirm it will by the middle of 2022, to join the Transporter and Caddy models.

However, because it will be Australian-made, the new Crafter camper won’t carry the California branding, according to Reid.

“Possibly not, because it’s not a true California,” he said.

The local operation has the confidence to go out on its own because of the success of its conversion business. Volkswagen Australia’s commercial vehicles director, Ryan Davis, revealed it now makes up approximately 15 per cent of its business and it will deliver 150 custom creations in 2021.

But Mr Reid said the company is confident that it can sell more and believes adding the Crafter to its California range will fill out the range and increase sales further in 2022.

“The luxury of the conversion program is the flexibility to meet our market needs,” he said. “What we’ve seen is the success of the California range in Australia. Ryan talked about 150 deliveries this year - that’s hugely supply constrained.”

Further details of this new addition to the Crafter range, including possible layouts and sleeping capacities, will be revealed closer to launch.