Demand was split almost evenly between the passenger and cargo versions.
The ID. Buzz got off to a rocky start in the United States. Not only did it arrive in North America much later than in Europe, but its relatively skimpy range and high price also made it a tough sell. Although it hasn’t been outright canceled in the U.S., the retro-tastic electric van won’t get a 2026 model year. Instead, VW will focus on clearing out 2025MY inventory before introducing the 2027MY later this year.
While the past 12 months weren’t exactly great for the ID. Buzz in North America, global sales told a very different story. VW Commercial Vehicles reports that demand more than doubled, reaching 60,700 vehicles; an increase of 102 percent over 2024. This might come as a surprise, but the family hauler technically surged by a whopping 461.5 percent in the U.S. to 7,300 units. That spike, however, is misleading, since the ID. Buzz didn’t go on sale stateside until the end of 2024, making it far from a fair comparison.
Globally, demand was split almost evenly between the passenger and cargo versions, with the workhorse accounting for about 46 percent of deliveries. VW aims to maintain that momentum by giving the ID. Buzz Cargo the long-wheelbase treatment later this year. The electric bus isn’t sold in North America as a Cargo variant, nor is it offered as a passenger model with a standard wheelbase.
The ID. Buzz also helped Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles more than double its EV sales in 2025, which climbed to 65,900 units, up 118.9 percent year over year. Fully electric vehicles accounted for 16.4 percent of total shipments, but overall deliveries slipped by 2.1 percent to 401,000 units.
Although the ID. Buzz hasn’t lived up to VW’s expectations in the U.S., the latest global sales figures are encouraging. Expanding the lineup with a stretched Cargo version should help attract more fleet buyers looking for a roomier van.
Details about the U.S. return for the 2027MY remain scarce, but it could usher in some notable changes. When VW announced there would be no 2026MY ID. Buzz in the U.S., Kjell Gruner, President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, teased what’s next: “We’re excited to welcome model year 2027 in 2026.”
Motor1’s Take: Hopefully, the 2027 ID. Buzz will put the “volks” back into “Volkswagen” by offering a more attainable entry price. More range certainly wouldn’t hurt either, but for now, that remains wishful thinking.
VW has blamed “market conditions” for the ID. Buzz’s hiatus, while the Passat-sized ID.7 was canceled before it ever reached the U.S. due to a “challenging EV climate.” There’s some truth to that, as tariffs and the cancellation of the federal tax credit created something of a perfect storm.
Catch Up With The ID. Buzz:
Source:
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles
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