Volkswagen has introduced the Tempest, a new large van designed for the South American market. The vehicle is a rebadged version of the Chinese Maxus Deliver 9, produced by SAIC. This launch is part of a broader investment of BRL 300 million, or $54 million, in the Volkswagen Trucks and Buses division.
The Tempest features a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel engine delivering 174 hp and 400 Nm of torque, paired with a six-speed manual transmission. Volkswagen engineers implemented over 250 technical modifications and adapted 50 manufacturing processes, supported by 1.5 million kilometers of testing. Cargo capacity varies from 9.7 to 12.3 cubic meters depending on the configuration.
Available in Cargo, Window, Minibus, and Truck variants, the van is currently manufactured in China. Volkswagen has already secured over 1,000 pre-orders from customers in Brazil, though pricing remains undisclosed. The company plans to expand the availability of the Tempest to Argentina early next year.
This collaboration builds on a long-standing partnership between Volkswagen and SAIC, which dates back to 1984. In addition to the Tempest, the companies are working on an electrified VW Amarok pickup for South America, which is scheduled for release next year and will be manufactured in Argentina.
