Volkswagen has confirmed that it won’t turn its back on its historic and popular model names when it transitions to electric vehicles.
Having last month launched what could be its last all new car to feature a petrol engine, the German giant has said it intends to retain established model names that have underpinned the business for decades.
Announcing the move, it confirmed that an evergreen nameplate that’s been in showrooms for 50 years will be the first to make the switchover the battery propulsion.
The company today rubberstamped that its 2026 ID.2 electric hatchback will be dubbed ID.Polo. The ID.2 GTI also becomes the ID.Polo GTI.
The decision calls time on its existing EV naming system dating back to 2018, which uses the ‘ID’ moniker followed by a number, including the likes of the ID.4, ID.5 and ID.7.
It means the current ID.3 is now likely to be replaced by a next-generation ID.Golf, while nameplates such as Tiguan, Touareg, Up! – and potentially Beetle – could be used for forthcoming battery models.
VW boss Thomas Schäfer said its nameplates are ‘firmly anchored in people’s minds’ and this is why it is ‘moving our well-known names into the future’.
Volkswagen has confirmed that it won’t turn its back on its historic and popular model names when it transitions to electric vehicles. The first will be the new ID.Polo – instead of ID.2 – which is being unveiled next week
The company today rubberstamped that its 2026 ID.2 electric hatchbac k will be dubbed ID.Polo. The ID.2 GTI also becomes the ID.Polo GTI
The company’s CEO added: [Our names] stand for a strong brand and embody characteristics such as quality, timeless design and technologies for all.
‘The ID. Polo is just the beginning.’
The Polo name first appeared in 1975 and spanned seven generations. In the last half century, VW has delivered more than 20 million examples of the mainstay supermini worldwide.
Volkswagen added that while it will transfer its long-running nameplates to its electric portfolio with each new model generation, refreshed versions of its current petrol and diesel motors will continue to use the same moniker.
The Polo name first appeared in 1975 and spanned seven generations (pictured). In the last half century, VW has delivered more than 20 million examples of the mainstay supermini worldwide
It means the current ID.3 is now likely to be replaced by a next-generation ID.Golf, while nameplates such as Tiguan, Touareg, Up! – and potentially Beetle – could be used for forthcoming battery models
The ID.Polo (left) is set to be unveiled in full next week during the Munich motor show, though it and the ID.Polo GTI (right) have been shown today cloaked by colourful camouflage to mask their design features and proportions
‘With this strategy, Volkswagen is bringing together the electric and combustion engine worlds, helping customers navigate the brand’s product range more easily in the future,’ it said.
The ID.Polo is set to be unveiled in full next week during the Munich motor show, though it and the ID.Polo GTI have been shown today cloaked by colourful camouflage to mask their design features and proportions.
The ID.Polo is scheduled to hit the market next year with a starting price in the region of £22,000, with execs in 2023 promising it will ring it at no more than €25,000.
Volkswagen bosses have said the EV supermini will have a range of around 280 miles between charges and a top speed of 99mph.
It will be available with the choice of 38kWh and 56kWh batteries and the ability to charge at speeds of up to 125kW.
The more potent ID.Polo GTI will have 223bhp – a worthy output for the first VW EV to carry the legendary GTI badge.
The ID.Polo GTI was previewed in 2023 with the debut of the ID.GTI concept.
The ID.Polo is scheduled to hit the market next year with a starting price in the region of £22,000, with execs in 2023 promising it will ring it at no more than €25,000
Volkswagen bosses have said the EV supermini will have a range of around 280 miles between charges and a top speed of 99mph
VW boss Thomas Schäfer said its nameplates 0 like Polo – are ‘firmly anchored in people’s minds’ and this is why it is ‘moving our well-known names into the future’
Martin Sander, member of the Volkswagen brand board of management for sales, marketing and aftersales said: ‘Our cars often accompany people for many years – they shape memories and stages of life. A model like the Polo shows just how powerful a name can be: it stands for reliability, personality and history.
‘That’s precisely why we are again giving our ID. models names that arouse emotions and are anchored in people’s everyday lives.
‘Electric mobility should not only be progressive, but also accessible and personal.’
Commenting on the EV hot hatch ID.Polo GTI, Sander added: ‘We are bringing one of our strongest brands, the GTI, into the electric world.
‘Also launching in 2026, the ID. GTI Concept model will go into production as the ID. Polo GTI. It will offer outstanding dynamics and plenty of driving pleasure.’
As well as unveiling both electric hatchbacks in full next week, VW will also take the wraps off a new ID.Cross Concept, which will also hit showrooms in 2026, though towards the end of that calendar year.
The production model will carry the name ID.Cross as the zero-emission alternative to the Polo-sized T-Cross crossover.
