Volkswagen just unveiled a self-driving, electric microbus concept with a range of 270 miles

Volkswagen

Volkswagen is putting a high-tech twist on its classic microbus.

The German automaker unveiled an electric microbus concept at the Detroit Auto Show on Monday. But this isn't the first time Volkswagen has given its beloved microbus a futuristic facelift — Volkswagen also unveiled a microbus concept at last year's Consumer Electronics Show.

Scroll down for a closer look at the microbus' evolution:

The very first Volkswagen Microbus went into production in 1950. Formerly known as the Type II or Kombi, the beloved bus is largely known as a symbol of the counterculture movement.

REUTERS/Nigel Roddis

Around 3.5 million microbuses were made before Brazil ultimately became the last country to end production in 2013. Volkswagen said at the time it was the longest-produced model in the auto industry.

Volkswagen unveiled a new and improved concept version of the beloved microbus at CES in 2016. The electric minibus, called the BUDD-E, is capable of getting up to 373 miles on a single charge, Volkswagen said at the time.

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The BUDD-E also came with other high-tech features, like doors that open with the wave of a hand and touchscreen displays with gesture control.

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