We were able to find a workaround with following article:
https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1017348#:~:text=To%20resolve%20this%20issue%2C%20ensure,Port%20Group...
- Connect directly to the ESX host web GUI where the VM is running
- Turn off the VM
- Open the settings
- Remove "Connect At Power On" from the NIC
- Temporarly change the portgroup/vlan to a different one
- Save the settings
- Open the settings and set the MAC Address settings to manual and change the MAC Address to the desired one
- Save the settings
- Open the settings and change the portgroup/vlan back to the original one
- Save the settings
- Open the settings and add "Connect At Power On" again
- Save and try to start the VM
We opened a case and are trying to get a bug fix.