The VW Transporter links up with the Transporter

It’s such an obvious link it’s amazing it hasn’t happened sooner … British actor Jason Statham famous for his role as The Transporter will lead the global advertising campaign for the new seventh generation Volkswagen Transporter T7.

Previewed in August, the new Transporter and its bus spin-off the Caravelle were officially unveiled at the Hanover commercial vehicle show overnight (Aussie time).

And with much already known about the vehicles, it was the hiring of Statham to promote the new VW van that was the fresh news.

Statham starred as former SAS soldier and ace driver Frank Martin in three movies in The Transporter franchise, most recently in 2008.

He was actually replaced in both a subsequent German TV series and the fourth movie, The Transporter Refueled released in 2015, but the balding Pom with a permanent three-day growth is the actor most closely associated with the tough guy role.

The first trailer released to introduce the connection between the two Transporters is pretty tame, but with a series of commercials and other digital content promised who knows what will happen.

Certainly, it’s the right vehicle to deliver ‘the package’ – a constant theme in The Transporter series.

Mind you, it’s also very different to the cars driven by Statham in the movies. He started with a BMW 735i and a Mercedes-Benz S-Class, in the second movie he swaps to a W12 Audi A8 and a Lamborghini Murcielago and then he’s back in an A8 for the third instalment.

Whether we see Statham promoting the new T7 line-up in Australia is yet to be confirmed.

So far Volkswagen Australia is keeping a lid on details about the new Transporter, which is based on the Ford Transit Custom as part of an alliance with the blue oval that’s also resulted in the Ranger-Amarok ute tie-up (among other models).

What is known is the T7 Transporter will arrive in Australia in the third quarter of 2025 offering diesel, plug-in hybrid and battery electric options.

It will follow the electric ID. Buzz Cargo and ID. Buzz five- and seven-seat vans in December 2024, and T7 Multivan in Q1 2025.

This is not Statham’s first automotive promotional deal.

He was the star of an Audi Superbowl ad in 2009 and in China in 2019 he was linked with niche sportscar maker Saleen (the venture collapsed in 2020).

Statham also reportedly has a substantial private car collection topped off by a rare McLaren Senna. Presumably there’s a Transporter in there as well now.

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