The Volkswagen ID. Buzz has completed one of the most ambitious electric vehicle journeys ever attempted, traveling nearly 100,000 kilometers through 92 countries and six continents without a single technical breakdown.
After 445 days on the road, German long-distance driver Rainer Zietlow has officially secured a new Guinness World Record for the “Most countries visited in a continuous journey by a battery powered electric vehicle.”
The record was achieved with a series-production Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro Long Wheelbase (LWB), demonstrating the electric van’s ability to handle vastly different roads, climates and driving conditions around the world.
The official Guinness World Records certificate was presented to Zietlow by Guinness World Records representative Lena Kuhlmann at IAA Transportation 2026 in Hannover, Germany.
92 Countries, Six Continents and 99,767 Kilometers
Zietlow began the ID. Buzz World Tour in the summer of 2025 at the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Customer Centre in Hannover, the home of the electric van.
Over the following 445 days, the ID. Buzz traveled 99,767 kilometers (about 62,000 miles) across 92 countries and six continents. The route included major cities, deserts, mountain ranges and some of the world’s most challenging regions for electric vehicle infrastructure.
The journey covered key markets across Europe, North and South America, Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia and China.
The ID. Buzz completed more than 300 charging cycles during the trip and was transported across oceans on 16 container-ship crossings. Despite the enormous mileage and variety of conditions, Volkswagen says the van never suffered a technical breakdown.
The vehicle also completed the journey on standard-production Giti Tire tires, further emphasizing that the record was achieved with a production-based vehicle rather than a heavily modified prototype.
ID. Buzz Battery Retained 95.75% Health
One of the most notable findings came after the world tour.
Following the vehicle’s return to Germany, TÜV Nord inspected the ID. Buzz’s high-voltage battery and certified a 95.75% state of health.
That figure is particularly significant given the nearly 100,000 kilometers accumulated during the journey and the wide range of climates and operating conditions encountered along the way.
“I had no technical problems,” Zietlow said when discussing the journey at IAA Transportation 2026.
For Zietlow, reliability was one of the most important takeaways from the trip.
“This was my biggest project in 20 years and, at one year and four months, also the longest I have ever undertaken,” he said. The project also involved around six months of preparation before the journey began.
Charging Infrastructure Remains Uneven Worldwide
The world tour also provided a real-world look at the rapidly changing global EV charging landscape.
Zietlow described electric mobility infrastructure as highly uneven from one country to another. In parts of Africa, charging stations were effectively unavailable. In countries including Zambia and Tanzania, the team had to charge at national substations under supervision.
Other markets showed a very different picture.
South Africa, Morocco and Rwanda already have more developed charging options, while Saudi Arabia has expanded its charging network significantly in recent years. Zietlow also highlighted Brazil and Chile as markets where electric mobility is progressing quickly.
China stood out as another example of widespread EV adoption, with electric vehicles already playing a major role in everyday transportation.
One particularly unusual experience came in Rwanda, where Zietlow encountered multiple ID. Buzz vans being used as shuttle taxis near an airport at an altitude of around 2,000 meters.
The journey therefore demonstrated both the potential of electric vehicles for long-distance travel and the remaining infrastructure challenges in parts of the world.
Why an EV Worked for a Global Road Trip
Zietlow said the journey highlighted some fundamental differences between electric vehicles and combustion-powered cars.
In regions where diesel quality can vary, fuel contamination, high sulfur levels and other problems can create additional challenges for conventional vehicles. Combustion engines also require regular oil changes and can be affected by overheating.
Those issues do not apply to an electric drivetrain in the same way.
Charging does require advance planning, particularly in countries with limited infrastructure, but Zietlow believes that consideration is increasingly outweighed by the advantages of electric propulsion.
Most importantly, the record was completed in a series-production ID. Buzz, rather than a purpose-built experimental vehicle.
That is arguably one of the strongest messages from the journey: a production electric van was able to travel almost 100,000 kilometers through 92 countries and complete the trip without a technical failure.
Volkswagen ID. Buzz Pro LWB Specifications
The ID. Buzz used for the record is the Pro Long Wheelbase version, equipped with an 86 kWh battery.
Depending on configuration and testing conditions, the model offers up to 498 km (309 miles) of WLTP range. DC fast charging at up to 200 kW allows the battery to recharge from 10% to 80% in less than 30 minutes under suitable conditions.
