Volkswagen's U.S. EV Sales Collapse 90% As Inventory Runs Thin

Volkswagen’s electric ambitions in the United States hit a wall in the third quarter. The automaker moved just 1,421 battery-electric vehicles between July and September, a 90% plunge from the same stretch a year earlier — one of the steepest quarterly declines logged by any EV brand in the country.

The breakdown explains much of the damage. The ID.4 crossover accounted for 989 deliveries, down 92.1% from the 12,470 units sold a year ago. The ID. Buzz minivan fared somewhat better but still fell sharply, with 432 sales versus 2,469 previously, an 82.5% drop. Year-to-date, Volkswagen has sold 6,107 EVs in the U.S., down 77%. Even the broader brand felt the chill: total U.S. volume slid 10.9% to 78,179 vehicles in the quarter.

The root cause is a lineup that has effectively gone dark. American-spec ID.4 production ended in April at Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant, where assembly space was redirected toward gasoline SUVs, and ID. Buzz imports were halted with only 2025-model units remaining. For much of the year, dealers have been selling down existing stock rather than receiving fresh supply. To clear lots, the ID.4 was discounted by as much as $12,500. The ID. Buzz, meanwhile, still starts at $61,545 and maxes out at 234 miles of range — a tough sell in a market that keeps tightening its belt.

Relief is expected to arrive next year with the ID. Tiguan, an electric crossover meant to succeed the ID.4. It brings a front trunk, a redesigned cabin with more physical controls, and an optional front-passenger screen. Volkswagen also plans to bring the ID. Buzz back as a 2028 model featuring a native NACS charging port, improved software, and new color options. Until that pipeline refills, the numbers are likely to stay ugly.