92 Countries, One Guinness World Record: An All-Electric Journey Around the World

The ID. Buzz World Tour has come to a successful close. In 441 days, Rainer Zietlow and his Challenge4 team travelled 99,767 kilometres through 92 countries on six continents, setting a new Guinness World Record for the most countries visited in a continuous journey by a battery-powered electric vehicle. Beginning and ending in Hannover, Germany, the tour showed what is already possible with a series-production electric vehicle on a genuinely global scale.

At the wheel was a Volkswagen ID. Buzz with long wheelbase, kindly provided by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. Over deserts, mountain roads, busy cities and remote regions, the vehicle completed the journey without a technical breakdown. The route also required careful planning beyond the road itself: 16 ferry and container-ship transfers connected the continents and made this continuous electric world journey possible.

The expedition was never simply about covering distance. It was a practical test of electric mobility in very different climates, road conditions and charging environments. More than 99,000 kilometres in everyday, real-world conditions demonstrated that long-distance electric travel is increasingly feasible—provided it is approached with sound preparation, patience and a willingness to adapt.

This achievement was made possible with the support of committed partners. Our sincere thanks go to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles for supplying the ID. Buzz that carried the team around the world. We are especially grateful to main sponsor Giti Tire, whose GitiSynergy H2 tyres supported the journey with a focus on efficiency, safety and reliability; two sets of tyres were used during the tour.

We would like to thank Maxion Wheels, whose 18-inch steel wheels accompanied the ID. Buzz throughout the expedition. Furthermore, our thanks go to ifm, a Tier 2 supplier that provides the sensors fitted in the ID. Buzz, and TÜV Nord, who tested the tour vehicle before and after the tour. Last but not least, we would like to thank Elli for supporting our tour by providing free electricity at their European charging stations.

This is Rainer Zietlow’s ninth Guinness World Record, set in a Volkswagen. And this new Guinness World Record is an important milestone: It shows that electric vehicles can already take people everywhere in the world.

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