Volkswagen said on Wednesday it will abandon its current naming convention for electric cars and revive established model names, starting with the production version of its ID.2all concept, which will be launched as the ID. Polo.
The change marks a shift away from the ID. plus number branding used for the carmaker’s electric models. Volkswagen brand chief Thomas Schäfer said the company will only apply iconic names such as Golf or Polo if future EVs can match the character of their combustion-engine predecessors. “The ID. Polo is just the beginning,” Schäfer said.
The move opens the way for models such as the ID.3 to become the ID. Golf, the ID.4 the ID. Tiguan, and the ID.7 the ID. Passat. Volkswagen also plans to replace its EV-specific GTX badge with the GTI brand. The first will be the ID. Polo GTI, due in 2026, which sales chief Martin Sander said will deliver “outstanding dynamics and plenty of driving pleasure.”
Volkswagen confirmed the ID. Polo will be offered as a four-door with two battery sizes and at least three power levels, later rising to four. The base model will be priced below €25,000 and include DC fast charging as standard. More powerful versions will feature nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries and up to 450 km of range under WLTP.
The carmaker said the ID. Polo will premiere in May 2026, with deliveries expected in autumn, later than the original 2025 target. A related small SUV, previewed as the ID. Cross Concept, will follow at the end of 2026 as the electric counterpart to the T-Cross. Volkswagen said the rollout of these lower-priced EVs, including a €20,000 entry-level model, will be key to broadening access and accelerating growth in electric mobility.