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Volkswagen has announced a new direction for its model names, setting a course to transfer the established and well-known names of its bestselling models to its all-electric ID. family. This strategic shift aims to provide customers with better orientation across the brand’s growing product range by blending the familiarity of classic names with the progressive identity of its electric vehicles. The first model under this new convention will be the ID. Polo, which is the series production version of the ID. 2all concept car, scheduled for launch in 2026.
Key Highlights
- Volkswagen will integrate established names like Polo and GTI into its all-electric ID. family lineup.
- The ID. 2all show car will officially be named the ID. Polo and is set to launch in 2026.
- A performance version, the ID. Polo GTI, will also go into production, launching in 2026.
- An electric compact SUV, the ID. Cross, is planned for release at the end of 2026 as an electric alternative to the T-Cross.
- The new naming concept is designed to make the brand’s product portfolio easier for customers to navigate.
- Models with conventional combustion engines will continue to be sold under their current names.
A Strategic Blend of Heritage and Future
The decision to merge iconic model names with the electric “ID.” designation reflects a deliberate effort to leverage the brand’s strong heritage. According to Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, the company’s model names are “firmly anchored in people’s minds” and represent quality and timeless design. By moving these well-known names into the future, Volkswagen aims to combine the best of both worlds.
The “ID.” prefix will continue to signify advanced technologies and electric mobility, while a name like “Polo” carries a legacy of quality and the democratization of innovation. The new ID. Polo is intended to embody these combined characteristics and will appropriately launch in the Polo’s 50th anniversary year. Martin Sander, Member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management for Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, noted that powerful names like Polo stand for “reliability, personality and history,” helping make electric mobility more accessible and personal.
Expansion of the Electric Lineup
Alongside the ID. Polo, Volkswagen is bringing one of its most powerful brands, GTI, into the electric era. The ID. GTI Concept model will enter production as the ID. Polo GTI, also launching in 2026, promising “outstanding dynamics and plenty of driving pleasure”.
The brand is also expanding into the electric compact SUV segment. Volkswagen will unveil the ID. CROSS Concept before launching the production version, the ID. Cross, at the end of 2026. This model will serve as the electric counterpart to the popular T-Cross. The still-camouflaged ID. Polo and ID. Polo GTI are scheduled to make their first public appearance at the IAA MOBILITY in Munich.
A Renewed Focus on the Customer
This new era for Volkswagen’s electric family is marked by a clear commitment to making electric driving more affordable with new models like the ID. Polo and ID. Cross. The company emphasizes that these changes are a direct response to customer feedback. This is evident in tangible product improvements, including a higher level of quality with soft materials and an intuitive operating concept. Volkswagen is also implementing an intelligent combination of digital and physical controls, such as buttons and knobs in the steering wheel and cockpit, to enhance the user experience.
The ID. family was first introduced in 2018 as the brand’s stand-alone all-electric product range, starting with the ID.3. The lineup expanded with other models differentiated by numbers, such as the ID.7 sedan and station wagon. This new strategy evolves that system by replacing numerical identifiers with names that have resonated with customers for decades.
For more information, visit volkswagen-newsroom.com.
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