The Volkswagen ID. Buzz set a new Guinness World Record for “the most countries visited in a continuous journey” by an EV, covering nearly 100,000 km across 92 countries.
VW ID. Buzz receives Guinness World Record for an EV
After 445 days of travel, crossing 92 countries and covering 99,767 km, or about 62,000 miles, Volkswagen’s electric van earned its place in the Guinness World Records.
Rainer Zietlow drove the ID. Buzz Long Wheelbase (LWB) “around the world,” across six continents, through major cities, deserts and mountains.
Starting in Hanover, Germany, Volkswagen took the electric van to every part of the globe, including through the US, Africa, South America, Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and China.
It took more than 300 charging cycles and 16 container ships, but Volkswagen’s electric van completed the entire trip without a single technical breakdown.
Guinness World Records representative, Lena Kuhlmann, presented the certificate for the “Most countries visited in a continuous journey by a battery powered electric vehicle” at IAA Transportation 2026.
Rainer Zietlow receives the certificate from Guinness World Records representative Lena Kuhlmann (Source: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles)
“I had no technical problems,” Zietlow said in an interview at the event. Following the trip, Hanover-based TÜV Nord certified the ID. Buzz’s high-voltage battery retained 95.75% state of health.
Zietlow said the trip was his “biggest project in 20 years, at one year and four months,” and the longest he had ever undertaken.
“I am particularly proud that we came through this high mileage without any technical problems, and that through genuinely difficult regions,” the driver said during the interview.
Volkswagen ID. Buzz in Thailand as it earns Guinness World Record for “Most countries visited in a continuous journey by a battery powered electric vehicle” Source: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles)
Zietlow explained that “On a trip like this, the difference between a combustion engine and an electric vehicle is noticeable. In many parts of the world, diesel fuel can contain high sulphur levels or water contamination, several oil changes are required and there is also the risk of the engine overheating,” adding that “all of that is eliminated with an electric vehicle.”
Volkswagen ID. Buzz in the US as it earns Guinness World Record for “Most countries visited in a continuous journey by a battery powered electric vehicle” Source: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles)
Even when you factor in charging, “you are better off with an electric car,” he said. As battery and other EV components advance, travel will be easier and more efficient than ever.
“The gap to the combustion engine is getting smaller,” Zietlow told reporters, adding that “If the solid-state battery arrives at some point, along with very fast hyper-charging, then a great deal more will be possible.”
Volkswagen ID. Buzz in the US as it earns Guinness World Record for “Most countries visited in a continuous journey by a battery powered electric vehicle” Source: Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles)
Soon, “in the not-too-distant future,” he added, “the combustion engine will be to us what the horse-drawn carriage once was.”
The Guinness World Record was achieved in a series production ID. Buzz. Volkswagen used an ID. Buzz Pro Long Wheelbase (LWB) model.
VW’s electric van uses an 86 kWh battery that provides a WLTP range of up to 498 km. With DC fast-charging up to 200 kW, the ID. Buzz Pro LWB’s battery can charge from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes.
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