VW postpones US return of the ID. Buzz to 2028
Volkswagen will reintroduce the ID. Buzz in the US in the first half of 2027 as a 2028 model year. It means the US will miss a second consecutive model year as a result of the delay.
Image: Volkswagen
As recently as May 2026, VW announced the return of the electric van for the 2027 model year. According to the automaker, the new model range was set to gradually reach dealerships from August 2026 through early 2027, with the ID. Buzz expected in autumn 2026.
As _Automotive News_ reports, Volkswagen of America informed its dealers of a revised timeline on 24 September 2026. Just the day before, VW had listed the 2027 model year ID. Buzz in a press release about its in-car gaming offering, AirConsole.
In a statement, VW presented the 2028 model year as a consolidation of several improvements. The updates announced for the skipped year are to be retained. These include NACS charging via an adapter, one-pedal driving, physical buttons on the steering wheel, and the Tourer trim line aimed at camping enthusiasts. According to VW, the Tourer is based on the European Good Night Package. New additions include updated software, vehicle-to-load functionality, and the integration of a digital vehicle key.
Revised steering wheel buttons and vehicle-to-load functionality are not entirely new for the ID. Buzz. For Europe, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles announced a comprehensive update in April 2026. This includes physical buttons replacing the unpopular touch-sensitive surfaces and V2L capability, which can supply devices with up to 2 kW via an adapter at the charging port. VW has not disclosed the power output of the US version. The manufacturer also remains silent on whether there will be changes to the drivetrain, battery, or range.
A bumpy market launch
The ID. Buzz, which is exclusively manufactured by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles in Hanover, first launched in the US in November 2024 with an EPA range of 234 miles (~380 km) and a starting price of just under $60,000. According to _Automotive News_, it was the most expensive model in VW’s US lineup at time. Analysts cited by the industry outlet noted that the high price and limited range had constrained its appeal.
In its first full sales year, 2025, the ID. Buzz achieved 6,140 deliveries. _Automotive News_ reports that two sales stops reduced volumes, compounded by two recalls and the high US import tariffs in place since spring 2025. According to _InsideEVs_, the ID. Buzz never qualified for the $7,500 federal tax credit, but the end of this incentive contributed to a broader decline in the US EV market. Following an assessment of market conditions, VW confirmed in December 2025 that it would skip the 2026 model year for the US without abandoning the model entirely.
In the first half of 2026, Volkswagen sold an additional 2,481 units. Automotive News estimates that the sell-off of the 2025 model year is now nearly complete: the portal Cars.com lists only 38 new ID. Buzz vehicles remaining nationwide.
A shrinking US lineup
The delay comes at a time when VW’s electric offering in the US is already shrinking. In April 2026, US CEO Kjell Gruner stated that new EV models would not arrive in the US until the end of the decade, a decision confirmed by headquarters in Wolfsburg. According to a VW spokesperson, the future SSP electric platform will serve as the basis for this. Until then, the ID.4 and ID. Buzz are to remain the focus.
In the same month, however, VW halted production of the ID.4 at its Chattanooga plant to focus on the second generation of the internal combustion SUV, the Atlas. VW states that the 2026 model year inventory will meet ID.4 demand through 2027. A future version for North America was announced by the manufacturer in May 2026. In Europe, the successor to the ID.4 will celebrate its world premiere next month and is set to be renamed the ID. Tiguan. However, it remains unclear whether this model will make its way to the US.
VW, on the other hand, explicitly reaffirms its commitment to the ID. Buzz. A VW spokesperson told _InsideEVs_ that the ID. Buzz remains an important part of the US portfolio and that the company stands by its future in the US market. The manufacturer plans to provide further details about the 2028 model year in the coming months.