Volkswagen has confirmed it is pulling the plug on the all-electric ID. Buzz in the U.S. for the 2026 model year, just over a year after the retro-styled van finally arrived stateside.
The automaker confirmed the situation to Carscoops, with a spokesperson stating: “Following a careful assessment of current EV market conditions, we have made the strategic decision not to move forward with model year 2026 ID. Buzz production for the U.S. market.” U.S. production of the ID. Buzz will effectively be paused after the current 2025 inventory sells through.
Volkswagen pushed back against claims that the ID. Buzz has been permanently cancelled. Instead, the automaker says the electric van remains an important “halo product” and hinted at a potential return for the 2027 model year, though details remain scarce and far from guaranteed.
The ID. Buzz was positioned as a modern, electric reboot of Volkswagen’s iconic Microbus — a vehicle long associated with affordability, freedom, and counterculture appeal. However, its U.S. debut came with a hefty price tag. Starting at around $60,000, the ID. Buzz offered a 91 kWh battery and an EPA-estimated range of roughly 234 miles, figures that struggled to justify the cost for many buyers, especially as EV competition intensified.
Dealers reportedly began warning customers that remaining inventory could be the last available, adding fuel to speculation that the model’s future in America is on shaky ground. While VW insists this is a pause rather than a cancellation, the absence of a 2026 model year is telling.
The broader EV market slowdown has clearly played a role. Automakers across the industry are reassessing timelines amid changing regulations, tariffs, fluctuating demand, and uncertainty around incentives. Ford, for example, recently scrapped its all-electric F-150 Lightning pickup as the legacy automaker reverses course on electrification. In Volkswagen’s case, the ID. Buzz also suffered from expectations that were built up over nearly two decades of teasers and concepts — expectations that pricing ultimately undercut.
This pause comes despite some positive momentum for Volkswagen’s EV lineup. The ID. Buzz previously earned a five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP, and Volkswagen EVs — including the ID. Buzz — recently gained access to Tesla’s Supercharger network, significantly improving charging convenience for U.S. owners.
For now, Volkswagen says it is focusing on selling through the remaining 2025 inventory while preparing for a possible MY27 transition. Whether the ID. Buzz actually returns — and whether it comes back cheaper, better equipped, or fundamentally rethought — remains an open question.
