VW Refutes Claims of Pausing ID. Buzz Exports to the US Due to Tariffs | Carscoops

      Exports of the German-made retro-electric minivan were momentarily held at a European port while Volkswagen addressed a recall issue for the US.

      July 10, 2025, at 14:30

      by Chris Chilton

      Volkswagen denies claims that it halted ID. Buzz exports to the US due to tariffs.

      The company asserts that any delay was related to a recall and that "hundreds" of vehicles are on their way to America.

      To comply with regulations, the automaker had to reduce the width of the rear bench to prevent three-person seating.

      While Trump's tariffs may pose significant challenges for European manufacturers exporting vehicles to the US, Volkswagen of America insists they are not the reason for the temporary export suspension of the ID. Buzz.

      The response follows a report in European media suggesting that Trump’s decision to raise tariffs on German exports from 2.5 percent to 27.5 percent led Volkswagen to stop shipments to the US.

      Related: VW Alerts Nearly 17,000 Owners to Cease Using Passenger Seat

      “A Volkswagen spokesperson informed Carscoops, ‘Not true,’ when questioned about the article in Handelsblatt. ‘Volkswagen of America temporarily held ID. Buzz vehicles at the Emden port while resolving stop sale issues. These vehicles are now moving again, with several hundred currently on board a ship. To clarify, the pause at Emden affected only East Coast-bound shipments—we continued sending ID. Buzzes to the West Coast.’”

      The “stop sale” notice was initiated in May when VW declared a recall for 5,644 ID. Buzz EVs due to the rear seats being excessively wide. Surprisingly, while one might expect Americans to complain about narrower seats, the NHTSA determined that the rear seats of the Buzz were too spacious.

      Although there are just two seatbelts in the back, regulators believed the bench’s width could lead an unbelted third person to attempt to fit in. VW's solution was to install unpadded trim on the bench to decrease the seating area size, and all future EVs exported to the US will feature a narrower rear seat.

      Pausing all sales of a vehicle is never ideal, but if there were an opportune time for it, this period of tariff turmoil could be it. While the UK has secured a trade agreement with the US that spares brands like Land Rover from a 10 percent tariff, the EU has not yet finalized a similar arrangement, leaving its manufacturers facing a 27.5 percent duty. VW produces ID. 4s for the US market in Chattanooga, but the Buzz is assembled in Hanover, Germany.

      The Buzz is also proving to be a considerably weaker sales performer than VW anticipated. After initially forecasting 40,000 US sales per year, it’s likely to struggle to reach 10,000 this year, having delivered only 564 in Q2. Although the ID. Buzz is visually appealing, its starting price of $61,545 appears high, and its range of 234 miles (377 km) is subpar compared to other EVs like the Kia EV9, which offers better specifications for the same price or less. Additional concerns include the stylish retro two-tone paint being limited to higher trim levels (or an optional $995 on the base model) and VW's omission of Europe’s panel van version from the US market. Some industry observers believe that VW delayed the Buzz's launch too long, having first showcased a retro bus design in 2001. Had the model arrived sooner, possibly with a combustion (or hybrid) engine, it may have resonated better with mainstream American consumers.