There was plenty of, well, “buzz” when Volkswagen officially launched sales of the ID.Buzz battery-electric van last year, bringing out a modern incarnation of its legendary microbus. But that hasn’t translated into robust demand, VW selling barely 400 Buzz models a month so far this year. A temporary stop-sale didn’t help, but there are other problems that may be short-circuiting demand for the EV. Headlight.News has more.
A procession of ID.Buzz minivans seen wending its way down San Francisco’s Lombard St. during a media debut drive last year.
Volkswagen spent decades trying to find a way to revive its legendary Microbus, finally hitting what seemed like the right formula with the Buzz concept first revealed in 2017. It then took six more years to bring out a production model for the European market, a year longer for the U.S.
When it finally did reach American showrooms, the ID.Buzz made plenty of headlines. But, at least so far, that has translated into significantly fewer sales than Volkswagen planners and industry analysts anticipated, the German maker delivering a grand total of just 2,465 of the electric microbuses between January 1 and June 30.
There’s little doubt that an unexpected stop-sale order for a decidedly odd “defect” flagged by federal regulators didn’t help. But even VW insiders acknowledge Buzz faces other serious obstacles, including a high price tag and relatively low range. And there could be more challenges ahead, starting with the tariffs on European auto imports put in place by Pres. Donald Trump.
An unexpected recall
VW is adding plastic parts to the back bench so a third passenger can’t be squeezed into the Buzz’s back bench.
With extensive media coverage and a reasonably expansive corporate launch campaign, sales of the ID.Buzz “started off well,” said Volkswagen spokesman Mark Gillies. “But then the stop-sale hit.”
Announced in early May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ordered VW to halt sales of the electric microbus and recall all those already in dealer or customer hands. The reason: a too-roomy third row which, federal regulators ruled, can easily squeeze in three passengers, even though it only has seatbelts and headrests for two. Rather than adding another belt, VW decided to install “fixed unpadded trim parts” that take up that added space.
The stop-sale was lifted late in June, effectively killing the van’s momentum, said Gillies.
“A hard vehicle to sell”
Only well-equipped 3-row versions of Buzz are available in the U.S.
VW – as well as those who track the auto industry – are waiting to see if Buzz will bounce back from the recall and hope to get a better feel once July sales numbers are revealed. But not everyone is convinced it will live up to initial expectations. All told, VW sold barely 400 Buzz models a month for the first half of the year. If all those were rung up ahead of the recall it still would have amounted to an anemic 600 a month, for an annualized rate of barely 7,000.
While Buzz does have its loyal fans and eager buyers, “It’s a hard vehicle to sell,” acknowledged Gali Balter, a sales manager at Volkswagen of New Port Richey, Florida.
Balter pointed to a variety of challenges, starting with the broader U.S. market skepticism about battery-electric vehicles. “There are a lot of misconceptions,” she added, including the availability of public charging stations which, in her part of the state are more common than many potential buyers realize.
More Volkswagen News
- First Drive: 2025 VW ID.Buzz
- A Week With the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz
- Kia Bringing Competition to ID.Buzz with PV5 Van
VW misses the mark
Buzz’s interior layout, notably some quirky gauges and controls, have drawn criticism.
While the Buzz might have touched the right note when it comes to nostalgia, VW faltered elsewhere, said Erin Keating, lead auto analyst with Cox Automotive.
There’s the price tag, for one thing, starting at $61,545 when delivery fees are rolled in. VW opted to go with high-content, three-row packages, rather than the stripped-down, two-row trims available in Europe and other parts of the world, critics point out. At the upper end, Buzz tops $80,000.
For the typical VW buyer, “that’s a little scary,” said Balter, “a hard pill to swallow.”
Then there’s range: at most an EPA-estimated 234 for the single-motor package. While there are a number of current EVs delivering even less range, the industry is rapidly pushing upwards to minimize range anxiety. The new, Hyundai Ioniq 9, a three-row electric SUV, tops 300 miles in all configurations, according to the EPA.
Reviewers and potential buyers have also faulted VW’s use of quirky gauge layouts and clunky switchgear, notably to operate the front and rear windows.
More trouble ahead
Range is a big drawback, according to many potential buyers, at no more than 235 miles.
“It’s not nearly the cult classic everyone thought it would be,” said Keating, and she and other analysts note Buzz – like other EVs – could face still more trouble ahead, much of it laid in their path by Pres. Donald Trump.
The president has effectively halted a Biden-era program expected to deliver a massive, nationwide increase in the availability of public chargers. And the Trump-backed spending bill passed by Congress earlier in July will eliminate federal EV tax credits at the end of September. Other administration moves could lead to less consumer demand and fewer new all-electric models from manufacturers.
It also doesn’t help that the market for vans has fallen by roughly a third, to just 329,721 last year.
Wait-and-see
VW is still hoping to see a surge in demand for ID.Buzz now that the stop-sale has been lifted.
VW is clearly hoping that demand for Buzz will start pickup up its pace now that the stop-sale has been lifted and, at least at Volkswagen of New Port Richey, sales manager Balter says sales are again on the rise.
Analysts like Keating suggest VW could help build momentum by addressing some of the biggest concerns about the electric microbus. And one source told Headlight.News updates to the interior are in development.
But, for now, VW isn’t ready to deal with other issues. There is “no consideration” of a more affordable trim package, said spokesman Gillies. As for a longer-range battery pack, “I wouldn’t rule it out but,” he added, “there is nothing immediate” in the plans.
0 Comments