Language 简体中文 繁體中文 English (United States) English (United Kingdom) Español latinoamericano Español de España Português do Brasil Português de Portugal Français de France Français canadien Deutsch Italiano Nederlands 日本語 한국어 Русский العربية ไทย Tiếng Việt Bahasa Indonesia Polski Türkçe
RV

Volkswagen California

A camper conversion of a mass-market van, with a pop-up roof and a rock-and-roll bed that define the whole category.

Short answer

A camper conversion of a mass-market van, with a pop-up roof and a rock-and-roll bed that define the whole category.

ItemInformation
CountryGermany
RegionEurope
FoundedCalifornia line since the 1980s
HeadquartersHannover, Germany
CategoryPop-up roof with raised bed

Photographs

Volkswagen California · Representative model
Volkswagen California · Representative modelImages come from the internet — please judge them yourself; this site is not responsible for their accuracy.
Volkswagen California · Interior and finish
Volkswagen California · Interior and finishImages come from the internet — please judge them yourself; this site is not responsible for their accuracy.

Company history

The California is Volkswagen's own camping conversion of its Transporter, and the line dates back to the 1980s. Successive generations of the Transporter have each produced a California, which is why the name means different vehicles to different owners depending on when they bought.

The design that made it work is the pop-up roof with a raised bed, plus the rock-and-roll bed that folds out of the front seats during the day. Both came from the camper convention rather than from the car business, and both remain the reason people buy it.

The current generation also offers a battery and leisure-system option, and the electrification of the underlying platform has changed how the vehicle is served. Owners should confirm what the warranty covers on the conversion itself, which is fitted by someone other than the vehicle assembler.

Product lines

LineWhat it is
Pop-up roof with raised bedThe defining feature: a bed above the driving cabin that opens the vehicle's usable height when parked.
Rock-and-roll bedThe front seats convert into a double bed, so the vehicle is a bed vehicle during the day too.
Leisure battery and equipmentOptional power systems that turn the van from a place to sleep into a place to stay.

What to check before buying

  • The conversion is fitted separately from the base vehicle. Separate the two warranties in your head before you buy.
  • Payload is the binding constraint on these vehicles. Full of water, people and equipment, a California is near its limit fast; weigh it when loaded.
  • The diesel engines in older generations have their own reputation for maintenance cost. Check service history before buying used.
Official websiteCurrent model years, priced configurations and dealer lists live on the manufacturer's own site.
Official website →