VW ID. Buzz Cargo and Nike Make a Run Coast-to-Coast
Published on Sun, Oct 6, 2019
By: The LACar Editorial Staff
Draped in a subtly refreshed livery with retro roots, Volkswagen’s ID. BUZZ CARGO concept vehicle is going coast to coast with Nike to serve runners across the country. Making its first public appearance at Nike’s original storefront in Santa Monica, California on October 5th, the new-age delivery vehicle will make additional stops in Chicago and New York City, giving running communities and onlookers a glimpse at the electrified future of Volkswagen commercial vehicles, and a chance to learn about the history of Blue Ribbon Sports and Nike’s beginnings.
Established in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports, Nike – founded by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman – rose to fame through a winning combination of product innovation and customer service. In January of 1967, Jeff Johnson, Nike’s first official employee, helped establish the inaugural BRS storefront at 3107 Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, California. On top of managing the shop, Johnson became known for traveling to local track meets to sell product out of his personal vehicle, a Volkswagen Type 2 Bus, the inspiration for the ID. BUZZ CARGO.
BRS reopened its doors at 3107 Pico Boulevard on October 5th
BRS reopened its doors at 3107 Pico Boulevard this year as a recommitment to the running community of Los Angeles, not long after the U.S. debut of Volkswagen’s ID. BUZZ CARGO concept vehicle; a perfect, modern-day incarnation of an integral piece in their history.
To further move the needle on Volkswagen’s “Drive Bigger” initiative of social and corporate responsibility, the ID. BUZZ CARGO tour with Blue Ribbon Sports includes athletic footwear recycling at each installment. Utilizing Nike’s Reuse-A-Shoe program, which gives worn-out sneakers new life by transforming them into materials used to create running tracks, playing turf surfaces, and other athletic gear, the two brands will promote a shared focus on sustainability efforts and environmental commitments to athletes and fans all across the country.
Volkswagen played such an important role in Nike’s early history
“To learn Volkswagen played such an important role in Nike’s early history is a really big deal to us,” remarked Saad Chehab, Senior Vice President, VW Brand Marketing. “Supporting the rebirth of BRS is the perfect platform to help promote the common values of our companies, while showing the world VW’s commitment to electrification isn’t just about personal transportation – it’s about moving everything in a smarter fashion.”
Blue Ribbon Sports: Coast to Coast officially kicks off October 5th at 3107 Pico in Santa Monica. Full details can be found here.
About Volkswagen
Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is an operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America and a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, with headquarters in Herndon, Virginia. Volkswagen’s operations in the United States include research and development, parts and vehicle processing, parts distribution centers, sales, marketing and service offices, financial service centers, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Volkswagen Group is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen sells the Arteon, Atlas, Beetle, Beetle Convertible, e-Golf, Golf, Golf Alltrack, Golf GTI, Golf R, Golf SportWagen, Jetta, Passat, and Tiguan vehicles through more than 600 independent U.S. dealers. Visit Volkswagen online at www.vw.com or media.vw.com to learn more.
About NIKE, Inc.
NIKE, Inc., based near Beaverton, Ore., is the world’s leading designer, marketer and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Wholly-owned NIKE, Inc. subsidiary brands include Converse, which designs, markets and distributes athletic lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories; and Hurley, which designs, markets and distributes surf and youth lifestyle footwear, apparel and accessories. For more information, Nike’s earnings releases and other financial information are available at http://investors.nike.com. Individuals can also visit http://news.nike.com/ and follow @Nike.
post by: John Grafman