Globe-trotting Volkswagen ID. Buzz makes stop in Singapore

Volkswagen Centre Singapore usually already hosts a number of chipper electric members, with the likes of the ID.4 and ID. Buzz occupying its showroom floors. On Wednesday (8 October 2025), however, the space was given a fresh jolt of energy with the arrival of a very special guest - in fact, one that's still midway through its mission to ink a new, electrifying world record. 

Endurance driver, Rainer Zietlow, has made a pit stop in Singapore with his bright yellow ID. Buzz (specifically, an ID. Buzz Pro LWB with an 83kWh battery), bringing 97 days and more than 46,400km of memories and experiences thus far in tow. 

This special ID. Buzz has already been on the road for 97 days, and covered more than 46,400km on its journey here

The German national is already the holder of multiple records; his most recent one saw him making his mark Down Under with the Volkswagen Amarok V6 TDI, where he achieved the fastest time taken to cross all ten Australian deserts in a petrol-or-diesel-powered production pickup. Zietlow is also no stranger to fully-electric road trips, having previously taken the ID. 4 on a separate record run through North America. 

This latest expedition, however, is arguably even more ambitious. With the ID. Buzz, Zietlow is now attempting to set a new Guinness World Record for the most countries visited in an electric vehicle. 

Zietlow started his journey all the way back Hannover, Germany, and will have visited 70 countries by the end of his electric road trip

In fact, a whopping total of 70 countries are on the agenda, meaning that the expedition is now more than half-complete. The duo's journey started all the way at the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles Customer Centre in Hanover, Germany, and has already taken them through places such as the Baltic States, Turkey, China and Southeast Asia.

Bright livery aside (replete with the mapped-route stickered on), lucky visitors who got a chance to get up close with the car would have noticed a couple of standout qualities.

This special ID. Buzz is also a left-hand drive car that bears 'WOB'-prefixed German plates

For starters, this specific ID. Buzz bears 'WOB'-prefixed German plates, indicating its registration in Volkswagen's Wolfsburg headquarters; it's thus also one of the rare left-hand drive cars to have graced Singapore's shores. Slide its automatic doors open, and you'll find a power converter onboard (effectively an adaptor on steroids) too, which helped Zietlow to recharge the ID. Buzz in countries that don't use CCS chargers.

And while both driver and car have been kept in healthy condition throughout, there are a couple of charming 'battle scars' that speak to the arduousness of the journey: Little chips off the paint, as well as missing right rear rim. 

Charming battle scars give this ID. Buzz even more character 

Speaking of arduousness, however, the ID. Buzz accompanying Zietlow - crucially - rides on GitiSynergy H2 tyres as original equipment fitment, which have been described as "critical to this [record-making] attempt". 

Zietlow himself has praised them for their low rolling resistance and sturdiness - important qualities that continue to aid him on longer journeys as well as through tougher terrain and challenging weather elements.

The ID. Buzz has also been riding on GitiSynergy H2 tyres on its entire trip so far

"I am very happy to have Volkswagen and Giti Tire alongside me for this journey - the performance of the ID. Buzz and Giti tyres has met my expectations," Zietlow shared, before voicing confidence at his ability to "complete this zero-emissions world record attempt".

The timing of this latest record-making run is particularly significant, as Volkswagen celebrates the 75^th anniversary of its iconic Kombi bus in 2025.

This latest record-making run comes as the Kombi bus celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2025 (Pictured: Rainer Zietlow, left; and Dr Kurt Leitner, right)

Noting that the ID. Buzz revives its spirit in modern, fully-electric form, Dr Kurt Leitner, Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Singapore, shared, "The ID. Buzz is carrying the same spirit but reimagined for a new generation."

Following this pit stop in Singapore, both Zietlow and the ID. Buzz will move on to other places such as South Africa, Australia, and the Middle East. If you have an adventurous streak but weren't able to catch them up close during their stint in Volkswagen Centre Singapore, fret not; you can still live vicariously through the duo via the official expedition website here, where daily updates are uploaded, and where you can track their real-time GPS location.