VW ID Buzz Cancelled for 2026 as Dealers Slash $25K Off Remaining Stock

I watched Volkswagen announce the ID Buzz as America’s nostalgic EV savior. Now, after one model year and fewer than 5,000 sales, dealers are telling customers it’s over while VW insists it might come back someday.

Here’s what you need to know: VW confirmed to Carscoops they won’t produce 2026 ID Buzz models for the US market. The company is framing this as a pause, not a cancellation, but dealers are already fireselling remaining inventory at up to $25,500 off MSRP.

• What: VW skipping 2026 model year for ID Buzz in US, no firm 2027 commitment
• Sales: Fewer than 5,000 units sold through September 2025
• Why: “Current EV market conditions,” plus 25% tariffs on German imports
• What’s left: Remaining 2025 inventory at dealers, some at massive discounts

“Following a careful assessment of current EV market conditions, we have made the strategic decision not to move forward with MY26 ID. Buzz production for the U.S. market,” a VW spokesperson told Carscoops.

The Uber Robotaxi Question Nobody Is Asking

Here’s what other outlets are missing entirely. In April 2025, VW announced a partnership with Uber to deploy thousands of autonomous ID Buzz vans across US cities, starting with a 2026 Los Angeles launch. The plan included human safety drivers initially, with full driverless service targeting 2027.

Now VW is admitting they can’t sell the consumer version of the same vehicle in 2026. The math doesn’t add up. Either the robotaxi partnership is in serious trouble, or VW is prioritizing autonomous fleet vehicles over retail sales because fleets don’t care about sticker prices the way consumers do.

Neither option looks good for anyone who bought an ID Buzz expecting robust manufacturer support.

Why $60,000 Was Always the Wrong Price

The ID Buzz launched at $61,545 with just 234 miles of EPA-rated range. For context, that’s roughly the same starting price as the Kia EV9, which offers three rows, more range, and doesn’t face 25% import tariffs.

We documented these struggles back in July when dealer Fred Emich IV told the Wall Street Journal, “Anyone who has been around VW thinks the price point is high.” Enthusiast Autrey McVicker captured the buyer sentiment perfectly: “I just couldn’t justify such a high expense for an EV that would most likely lose 50% of its value the first year.”

He was right. Dealers are now selling 2025 ID Buzz Pro S models with zero miles for $36,695 at Tynan’s Volkswagen in Aurora, Colorado, a discount of $25,500 from the $62,195 sticker. That’s not a sale. That’s a surrender.

The Tariff Math That Killed the Buzz

The ID Buzz is built in Hanover, Germany, where labor costs run approximately $3,307 per vehicle compared to $1,341 in US plants. Add President Trump’s 25% tariff on European auto imports, and VW faces an impossible equation: either absorb thousands in losses per vehicle or pass costs to buyers who were already balking at full price.

This is the same tariff pressure that contributed to VW’s €1.3 billion quarterly loss we reported in October, their first loss since the pandemic. The company expects tariffs to cost up to €5 billion for the full year. Something had to give, and it was the vehicle with the worst sales-to-price ratio in their lineup.

Ford Lightning, Meet ID Buzz

This makes two major legacy automaker EVs dead in December 2025. Ford killed the F-150 Lightning on December 15, taking a $19.5 billion writedown and admitting that large EVs will never make money. Now VW is quietly shelving the ID Buzz four days later.

The pattern is clear: expensive EVs that needed federal tax credits to find buyers can’t survive without them. The September 30 expiration of the $7,500 federal EV tax credit has exposed which vehicles were built on sustainable demand versus government life support.

Without that credit, a $62,000 ID Buzz effectively costs $69,500. At that price, you could buy a loaded Kia EV9, a base Tesla Model X, or simply walk away.

What This Means for Current ID Buzz Owners

If you already own an ID Buzz, the resale implications are severe. When dealers are cutting $25,500 off new units, your used vehicle is worth whatever sits below that floor. The typical first-year depreciation for EVs runs 20-30%. ID Buzz owners may be looking at 40-50% or worse.

Service and parts availability becomes the next concern. VW says the ID Buzz remains an “important halo product,” but halo products with no new sales don’t generate the service revenue that justifies robust dealer support. If this pause becomes permanent, parts availability could become challenging within 3-5 years.

The Fire-Sale Opportunity for Buyers

Here’s the contrarian take: if you wanted an ID Buzz but couldn’t stomach the price, right now might be your moment. Dealers sitting on 2025 inventory need to move metal. A $36,695 ID Buzz is a fundamentally different value proposition than a $62,000 one.

At that price, you’re getting a quirky, spacious EV van with decent range for urban use and road trips under 200 miles. The catch is you’re buying into an uncertain future with potential resale and support questions.

For the right buyer, a dog hauler, weekend adventurer, or someone who keeps vehicles for 10+ years, the current discounts could represent genuine value. Just go in with eyes open about what you’re getting into.

EVXL’s Take

Here’s what I expect: the ID Buzz is not coming back for 2027, regardless of what VW says publicly. The company is hemorrhaging cash, facing billions in tariff costs, and just opened a €2.9 billion test center in China because German engineering can’t keep up with Chinese development speed. Their priorities are clear, and selling nostalgic vans to American buyers isn’t among them.

The Uber robotaxi partnership will likely proceed in some form because fleet economics work differently than retail. But consumer ID Buzz sales in America? That chapter appears closed.

This follows the pattern we’ve been tracking all year. VW’s €1.3 billion quarterly loss in October wasn’t an anomaly. It was the new normal for a company trying to sell expensive German-made EVs through 25% tariff barriers to American consumers who just lost their $7,500 tax credits. The EV transition isn’t unraveling, but legacy automaker strategies built on government subsidies certainly are.

Did you buy an ID Buzz, or were you considering one? How do these discounts change your calculus? Let us know in the comments.

ID Buzz Quick Facts

FAQ

Is the VW ID Buzz cancelled in America?

VW confirmed there will be no 2026 model year ID Buzz for the US market. The company frames this as a pause rather than a permanent cancellation, saying they’re “preparing for the MY27 transition,” but has not committed to bringing the vehicle back.

Can I still buy a VW ID Buzz?

Yes, remaining 2025 model year inventory is available at dealers, often with substantial discounts. Some dealers are selling ID Buzz Pro S models for as little as $36,695, representing discounts of over $25,000 from the original MSRP.

Why did VW stop making the ID Buzz for America?

VW cited “current EV market conditions.” The vehicle faced multiple challenges: high pricing starting at $61,545, limited range of 234 miles, 25% import tariffs on German-made vehicles, the expiration of federal EV tax credits on September 30, 2025, and recall issues that halted sales for two months.

What about the Uber robotaxi partnership?

VW and Uber announced plans to deploy autonomous ID Buzz vans starting in Los Angeles in 2026. This partnership appears to remain active despite the consumer version being pulled from the market, though questions remain about how VW will support autonomous fleet operations while abandoning retail sales.