Volkswagen’s EV van makes a surprise comeback in the US as the ID.4 goes on hiatus

This is a car story, not a home energy story, but here is what happened for anyone shopping for an EV.

Volkswagen is bringing back its electric minibus, the ID. Buzz, for the 2027 model year after skipping 2026 while it worked on an update. The refreshed version adds a Tourer trim built for overnight camping and arrives at dealerships next month. Sales of the current ID. Buzz have already picked up, more than doubling in the second quarter compared with a year earlier, though the total number sold is still small.

The ID.4, Volkswagen's electric SUV, is heading the other way. Sales dropped, and Volkswagen has stopped building it at its Tennessee plant. It will stay available only until current 2026 stock runs out, then be replaced by an all-new electric SUV expected to launch under the name ID. Tiguan by the end of the year. Spy photos show a more traditional SUV look, with a squared-off front end and the return of physical buttons inside instead of touch controls. Volkswagen hasn't released range or charging figures yet, but says newer battery and motor technology should improve on the current ID.4, which offers up to 291 miles of range in its rear-wheel-drive version.

Overall, Volkswagen's US electric vehicle sales fell sharply this year, and the company is counting on this wave of new models, including the Buzz update and the Tiguan, to turn things around. None of this involves home charging equipment or rebates, so it has no direct bearing on household energy upgrades.