Trump’s tariffs might be a major headache for European automakers shipping cars to the US, but they’re not the cause of a temporary pause in exports of the electric ID. Buzz, Volkswagen of America claims.

The automaker was responding to a story that appeared in European media claiming Trump’s decision to increase the tariffs on German exports from 2.5 percent to 27.5 percent forced VW to halt US deliveries.

Related: VW Warns Nearly 17,000 Owners To Stop Using Passenger Seat

“Not true,” a Volkswagen spokesperson told Carscoops when asked about the report in the German publication Handelsblatt. “Volkswagen of America temporarily held ID. Buzz vehicles at the port of Emden while resolving issues related to the stop sale. These vehicles are moving again, with several hundred currently on a ship. To clarify, the pause at Emden only affected East Coast-bound vehicles—we continued shipping ID. Buzzes to the West Coast throughout.”

The “stop sale” notice was issued in May when VW announced a recall for 5,644 ID. Buzz EVs because the rear seats were too wide. Yes, while you’d think Americans would be more likely to complain about seats being too narrow, the folks at the NHTSA decided that the rearmost seats on the Buzz were too generous.

There are only two seatbelts in the back but legislators reckoned the bench was wide enough to encourage a third, unbelted person to try squeezing themselves in there. VW’s remedy was to place unpadded bits of trim on the bench to reduce the size of the seating area and all of the EVs exported to the US in future will have a narrower rear seat.

Having to stop all sales of a vehicle is never good, but if ever there was a convenient time to do it, this period of tariff hell was it. While the UK has negotiated a trade deal with the US that allows the likes of Land Rover to escape with 10 percent tariffs, the EU has yet to finalize something similar, meaning its automakers’ exports are still subject to a 27.5 percent duty. VW builds US-market ID. 4s in Chattanooga, but the Buzz is manufactured in Hanover, Germany.

The Buzz is also shaping up to be far less of a sales hit than VW hoped. Having talked up the prospects of 40,000 US sales annually at one point, it’s going to struggle to hit 10k this year – in fact, it delivered just 564 in Q2. The ID. Buzz looks great, but its $61,545 starting price seems expensive and its 234-mile (377 km) range poor compared with what other EVs like the Kia EV9 offer for the same money or less. Other gripes include the stylish retro two-tone paint being restricted to upper trim level (or a $995 option on the entry-level model) and VW’s failure to launch Europe’s panel van version in the US.

Some industry watchers believe VW simply took too long launching the Buzz, having first showed a retro bus back in 2001. Perhaps if the model had come sooner, and with a combustion (possibly hybridized) engine, it might have been a better fit for mainstream America.

Carscoops

Lead image VW

Volkswagen’s van lineup is already one of the most expansive in Europe, covering everything from compact urban haulers to full-size electric people movers. And now, there’s a strong chance the family might be getting a new member, this time, a smaller electric MPV aimed at reviving a body style that’s mostly disappeared from the mainstream.

The German carmaker currently fields the compact Caddy, the Ford-based Transporter, the in-house developed Multivan, and the all-electric ID. Buzz. But those might soon be joined by a more compact, electric alternative that could quietly take over for the aging Touran.

More: Here’s What’s Coming To VW’s 2026 Lineup

Over the last decade, SUVs have more or less steamrolled minivans off the European market. Buyers swapped sliding doors for high ground clearance, leaving few traditional MPVs standing. Despite the trend, VW seems to think there’s still a case to be made for family-friendly vans, especially considering the format’s continued popularity in markets like China.

According to a report from Autocar, insider sources say VW recently dusted off some old minivan concepts as part of early-stage planning for a new model. Among them is the Budd-e, a study first shown back in 2016 at CES. Built on the MEB electric platform, the Budd-e was VW’s early attempt at blending heritage cues with forward-looking tech.

The Budd-e measures 4,597 mm (181 inches) long, which makes it slightly more compact than the standard-wheelbase ID. Buzz by 115 mm (4.5 inches), yet longer than the second-gen Touran by 70 mm (2.8 inches). It’s sized just right for the compact MPV segment, with dimensions that promise decent cabin space without overwhelming urban streets.

Thanks to a flat EV floor and short overhangs, the Budd-e’s interior packaging could be far more efficient than the Touran’s. Its microbus-inspired silhouette doesn’t just serve as a nostalgic throwback, it also helps maximize usable space. VW designers would also have more freedom to experiment with the seating layout, while sliding rear doors would add a dose of everyday practicality.

A More Affordable Alternative to the ID. Buzz?

More importantly, the new compact van would be more affordable than the ID. Buzz that starts from around $60,000 in America, targeting family buyers and taxi fleets. The UK publication describes it as a “no-nonsense, high-utility electric vehicle with sliding rear doors and strong day-to-day usability”.

More: VW’s Future EVs Might Run On A Platform It Didn’t Even Build

The minivan project has yet to receive the green light from VW’s top brass, and remains in early development stage. Still, if it does get the green light, production could start closer to 2028. The choice of underpinnings will largely depend on the launch date, as the EV could either ride either on an evolved version of the current MEB architecture or the upcoming SSP.

Volkswagen also plans to phase out the ID naming strategy in favor of more familiar nameplates. So if this model does come to life, don’t be surprised if it wears the Touran badge once again, this time powered by electrons rather than diesel.