Volkswagen ID. Buzz sets world record with 99,767-kilometer global journey

A Volkswagen ID. Buzz completed a 99,767-kilometer (roughly 62,000-mile) journey across 92 countries and six continents, setting a Guinness World Record over the course of 445 days. The production electric van was driven by German long-distance driver Rainer Zietlow, who departed from Hannover, Germany, traveled around the world, and returned to the starting point. Guinness World Records certified the trip as the "most countries visited by a battery-powered electric vehicle on a continuous journey" and presented the certificate at the IAA Transportation show in Hannover in 2026.

Zietlow set off on July 1, 2025 from the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles customer center, where the ID. Buzz is produced. Over the following 445 days, the vehicle crossed six continents, passing through major cities, deserts, mountainous regions and areas with varying levels of EV infrastructure. The trip covered 99,767 kilometers (roughly 62,000 miles) and involved more than 300 charging cycles. Because the route spanned oceans, the vehicle was also shipped by container 16 times.

Throughout the record run, the vehicle was kept on standard production Giti tires. According to Volkswagen and Zietlow, the vehicle did not experience any technical failures during the journey. This is notable given the varied conditions faced, although the experience represents a single vehicle rather than a controlled durability test of the ID. Buzz fleet.

Charging infrastructure challenges

The journey also underscored a practical limitation for long-distance electric travel: the global charging infrastructure remains highly uneven. Zietlow noted that some regions offered very limited conventional charging options. In parts of Africa, including Zambia and Tanzania, the team charged at national substations under supervision. Other countries had relatively developed charging networks. South Africa, Morocco and Rwanda were among those Zietlow identified as having stronger charging infrastructure, and he also pointed to Saudi Arabia's rapid growth. Brazil and Chile stood out for electric mobility expansion in South America, while China distinguished itself by the scale of EV adoption.

The gap between EV technology and infrastructure

The experience highlights an important distinction between what EV technology is capable of on long journeys and the infrastructure needed to make such travel practical. While the ID. Buzz was able to cover the distance, planning when and how to charge remained a significant part of the expedition.

According to test results, the ID. Buzz's high-voltage battery reached a state of health of 95.75% after the journey. TÜV Nord conducted the assessment after the vehicle returned to Germany, documenting the data after nearly 100,000 kilometers (roughly 62,000 miles) and more than 300 charging cycles. TÜV Nord had also inspected the vehicle before the journey to help verify that the same production vehicle completed the trip. This figure should not be interpreted as every ID. Buzz battery retaining 95.75% capacity at the same mileage.

Battery degradation depends on multiple factors, including temperature, charging behavior, power levels and usage patterns, and this represents only a single vehicle. However, the result offers an unusual real-world data point showing how an EV can perform after more than a year of international driving.

For Zietlow, the journey was the biggest project of his 20-year career. It also tested an increasingly important aspect of EV adoption: whether a production electric vehicle can remain usable across varied environments when infrastructure is far from uniform. The results from this ID. Buzz are encouraging, but the global trek also shows that the availability of charging, rather than vehicle range alone, remains the biggest variable in worldwide electric travel.

Feasibility and challenges of long-distance electric travel

The global journey underscored the potential of EVs for long-distance travel, while also revealing shortcomings in charging infrastructure. Although the ID. Buzz performed well throughout the trip, experienced no failures and maintained good battery health, the limited availability of charging options remained the main challenge. Uneven development of charging infrastructure across regions affects the adoption and use of electric vehicles. The experience emphasized that, alongside promoting EVs, charging networks must be strengthened to support sustainable electric travel.