Volkswagen Halts ID. Buzz Deliveries Amid Technical Recall, Tariff Pressures

German auto giant Volkswagen has announced the suspension of deliveries of its ID. Buzz electric minivan due to a technical issue—amid reports that the decision was also influenced by costly U.S. tariffs on imported vehicles, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.

The ID. Buzz has been subject to the new tariff since April—making it financially unviable to export the vehicle to the U.S. I Photo: Volkswagen

“No electric ID. Buzz models made in Hanover are currently being delivered to North America due to a technical recall mandated by U.S. authorities,” said Tobias Riepe, a spokesperson for Volkswagen’s commercial vehicles division.

He explained that the van’s rear seats were “deemed too wide for the vehicle.”

However, citing company insiders, German business daily Handelsblatt reported that the primary reason for the suspension was the 25% tariff imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on imported cars not largely manufactured in North America.

The ID. Buzz, which is produced in Hanover, has been subject to the new tariff since April—making it financially unviable to export the vehicle to the U.S., according to the report.

Foreign carmakers have scrambled to adapt to the levies.

Meanwhile, high-end automaker Mercedes-Benz recently said it was delaying some U.S. deliveries in anticipation of a possible rollback of the tariffs. Volkswagen reported a 16.2% drop in U.S. deliveries in the second quarter of 2025, attributing the decline to the newly imposed duties.