Volkswagen decided to make this year’s International Volkswagen Bus Day one to remember by announcing a very special project: the restoration of a white-over-blue T2 bus that survived January’s Palisades Fire in Southern California.

The bus became a beacon of hope for residents who suffered through the devastating fire, which caused an estimated $28 billion to $53.8 billion in property damage. A photograph by the Associated Press, along with a subsequent article, showed the bus looking remarkably pristine amid a Malibu neighborhood ravaged by flames.

Volkswagen reached out to the owner, Megan Krystle Weinraub, about assessing its condition and offering to restore the bus, referred to as “Azul” by Weinraub, to its pre-fire form if possible. Upon receiving proper clearance to enter the neighborhood, the bus was loaded up and transported to VW’s Oxnard Campus to start its restoration. It became apparent that while the side seen in the famous photo made it look like it was in mint condition, the other side was a bit more beat up.The team at VW determined it would need extensive mechanical and bodywork fixes to be fully operational again. 

Restoration is now underway and expected to be completed by the end of the year. Volkswagen has also acknowledged the broader impact of the fires, pledging monetary donations to the California Fire Foundation back in February. The survival and restoration of Azul stand as a symbol of resilience and hope—and mark yet another chapter in Volkswagen’s deep cultural connection with California.