Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) welcomed renowned world-record driver Rainer Zietlow to Malaysia on his extraordinary attempt to set a new Guinness World Records title for the most countries visited in an electric vehicle.
Since the start of his journey, Zietlow has travelled through 46 countries in 84 days, covering more than 46,400 kilometres in the all-electric Volkswagen ID. Buzz.
He previously set records in the Volkswagen Touareg in 2012, a model renowned for its strength and versatility, making his current journey in the fully electric ID. Buzz a powerful symbol of how far mobility has come.
This stop also marks Zietlow’s second visit to Malaysia, providing guests a rare opportunity to see the iconic EV in action and meet the man behind the wheel.
According to Renate Noessler, Managing Director of Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia, Volkswagen embodies both innovation and exploration: “The Volkswagen brand is built on engineering excellence and emotional connection — vehicles that are made to move people, both physically and emotionally. The ID. Buzz is a modern revival of that legend, the VW Bus, the minibus a beloved icon. The ID. Buzz is carrying the same spirit, but reimagined for a new generation. Rainer’s mission really highlights its performance, reliability, and spirit of exploration that people all around the globe know and love.”
In case you were wondering. Rainer Zietlow is a German world record holder and long-distance driver with Volkswagen cars, best known for his extraordinary automotive expeditions and the planning of international record-breaking tours through his agency, Challenge4 GmbH, based inMannheim, Germany. He holds six long-distance and two altitude world records officially recognized by Guinness World Records.
Zietlow’s career as an adventure driver began in 1988 when he crossed the Sahara to Niger in a Mercedes 230—with a mere six-week-old driver’s license in his pocket.
He repeated a similar feat in 1990, this time reaching Cameroon in a Toyota Land Cruiser. In 1996, he completed a round-the-world trip in a Land Rover Defender 110 in just six months. In 2004, he founded Challenge4 GmbH, which has since successfully completed over 20 major projects with Volkswagen cars, specializing in the organization and execution of long-distance and record-breaking drives.
Almost all of these projects have supported SOS Children’s Villages, with Zietlow making donations to the organization during village visits on his tours.
