VW ID. Buzz Sets World Record by Visiting 92 Countries Without Technical Failures
Written with artificial intelligence.
Rainer Zietlow has achieved a world record by driving a Volkswagen ID. Buzz for 99,767 kilometers across 92 countries in 445 days without any technical issues. The record was certified by Guinness World Records during the IAA Transportation 2026 event.
World Record Journey
A Volkswagen ID. Buzz has entered the Guinness World Records after completing a global tour lasting 445 days, covering 92 countries across six continents. Driver Rainer Zietlow returned to Hannover, Germany, on September 14, having driven 99,767 km in a long-wheelbase electric van.
Lena Kuhlmann, a representative from Guinness World Records, presented Zietlow with the certification at the IAA Transportation 2026, recognizing the achievement of the "most countries visited during a continuous journey in a battery electric vehicle." This marks Zietlow's ninth Guinness record with a Volkswagen vehicle.
Technical Performance
Zietlow began his journey on July 1, 2025, from the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles customer center where the ID. Buzz is produced. The tour involved over 300 charging cycles and 16 maritime crossings. Notably, the vehicle completed the entire journey without any technical failures. TÜV Nord inspected the ID. Buzz before and after the trip, confirming that its high-voltage battery maintained a health status of 95.75% upon return.
Zietlow mentioned, "I didn’t have any technical problems. For me, that’s the decisive point," emphasizing the advantages of electric vehicles over traditional combustion engines, such as variable fuel quality and the risk of overheating.
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
The record-setting ID. Buzz Pro featured an 86 kWh net battery with a WLTP range of about 483 to 498 km, and it supports fast charging at 200 kW, allowing for a charge from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes. Zietlow noted the uneven development of electric vehicle infrastructure globally. He faced challenges in countries like Zambia and Tanzania, where charging options were nearly nonexistent, requiring him to rely on national electric posts.
In contrast, markets like South Africa, Morocco, and Rwanda have developed usable charging networks. Zietlow remarked that Saudi Arabia's infrastructure is nearly on par with Germany’s. He observed rapid progress in Brazil and Chile and described China's electric mobility as being in a class of its own.
Future of Electric Vehicles
Zietlow anticipates that advancements in battery technology, particularly solid-state batteries and ultra-rapid charging, will further accelerate the transition to electric vehicles, expanding possibilities for long-distance travel.