Volkswagen ID. Buzz sales plummeted 35.2% in the first quarter as dealers only moved 1,232 units. The disappointing result came roughly three months after the automaker confirmed they’ve made the “strategic decision” to skip the 2026 model year following a “careful assessment of current EV market conditions.”

They added a 2027 ID. Buzz would arrive later this year, once dealers clear out the existing inventory of 2025 models. That work continues and it appears the company only has about a month and a half supply of vehicles remaining.

More: VW ID. Buzz Markups Hit $35,000 As Greedy Dealers Run Amuck

While that sounds like good news, some dealers are slapping on huge discounts to move inventory. Ken Ganley Volkswagen of Bedford, Ohio has a new 2025 ID. Buzz Pro S listed for $42,000. That’s $20,737 below the original MSRP of $62,737 and it undercuts the $42,795 Honda Odyssey.

Outside of the Buckeye state, Nalley Volkswagen in Georgia has an electric van priced at $44,695. That’s significantly cheaper than the original sticker price of $62,195, thanks to a $10,000 dealer discount and a $7,500 incentive from Volkswagen.

Even dealers in EV-friendly California are offering sizable savings as New Century Volkswagen in Glendale has a $62,318 ID. Buzz on sale for $49,810. The $12,508 reduction was made possible thanks to the aforementioned $7,500 incentive as well as a dealer discount of $5,008.

Those are just a few examples, but dealers are even discounting the ID. Buzz 1st Edition. Missouri’s Volkswagen of Kirkwood has a $12,000 discount on their van, which lowers the price to $60,570 before a $599 “admin fee.”

That’s still ridiculously expensive for a minivan, but it’s a far cry from the days when dealers were applying markups of between $5,000 and $35,000. It’s hard to say how much blame greedy dealers deserve for the ID. Buzz’s failure, but there’s plenty to go around.

Volkswagen is giving the ID. Buzz a round of updates, adding power and finally addressing some of the cabin’s most complained-about ergonomics. There is a catch, though. These changes are currently limited to Europe and the UK, with North America set to skip the 2026 model year entirely.

The biggest addition is the new ID. Buzz Pro 4Motion. It brings a dual-motor setup producing 335 hp (250 kW), a figure that was previously reserved for the hotter GTX variant. Buyers get a 79 kWh battery in short-wheelbase form, while the long-wheelbase version steps up to an 86 kWh pack.

More: VW Spent Years Removing Knobs From Its Cars, The ID.3 Neo Puts Them Back

More importantly, the switch to all-wheel drive is not just about traction. Towing capacity gets a useful bump, up by 600 kg (1,323 lbs) over the rear-wheel-drive models. That pushes the maximum to 1,800 kg (3,968 lbs) for the standard version, although the longer, heavier model sees that figure trimmed slightly to 1,600 kg (3,527 lbs).

Smarter Tech Inside

Volkswagen is also using this update to tidy up the cabin, focusing on usability while layering in a few new tech features. The ID. Buzz now gets the latest Innovision infotainment system, bringing cleaner menus and access to a new App Store covering audio, video streaming, parking, charging, and even gaming. It is the same setup already seen in the ID.3 Neo, and it will roll out to the facelifted Caddy and Transporter T7 later this year.

More: VW’s ID. Buzz Picks Up A Feature No Minivan Has Any Business Offering

One of the more welcome fixes sits right in front of the driver. Proper physical buttons return to the steering wheel, replacing the fiddly touch-sensitive controls that never quite convinced anyone. That said, VW is still holding onto the touch sliders below the main screen, which remain as divisive as ever.

There is also a practical upgrade. Vehicle-to-Load functionality is now available, allowing the ID. Buzz to power external devices like e-bikes or other equipment through a dedicated adapter, turning the van into a mobile power source when needed.

The fully electric microbus will finally offer one-pedal driving, allowing regenerative braking to bring it to a standstill when the driver lifts their foot off the gas. Finally, safety equipment has been improved with the optional Connected Travel Assist, featuring traffic light recognition.

More: Volkswagen Multivan Gets A New Look, But The Real Upgrade Is Still Hidden

The 2026 VW ID.Buzz will reach dealers in Europe and the UK this summer. While the updates are currently limited to the other side of the Atlantic, there is a chance they will be applied to the US-spec ID.Buzz for the 2027 model year.

Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles