Volkswagen has officially confirmed that it is moving away from the ID naming structure that has defined its electric lineup for the past five years.
The decision was revealed ahead of the IAA Munich Motor Show, where VW will show the production version of the ID.2all concept, now rebadged as the Polo. A GTI performance version is also in development.
The shift signals a major rebrand for Volkswagen’s electric cars. Models that once carried alphanumeric designations such as ID.3 and ID.7 will gradually transition to familiar names that already carry weight with buyers. The ID. Cross, an electric counterpart to the T-Cross crossover, is also scheduled for production in 2026.
For Volkswagen, the reasoning is simple. While the ID badge helped separate EVs from combustion models at launch, it also confused casual buyers. Board member Martin Sander explained that established names like Polo connect directly with heritage, reliability, and customer emotion. “Electric mobility should not only be progressive, but also accessible and personal,” he said.
The timing is critical. Volkswagen has struggled to meet ambitious sales goals for its EVs, particularly in North America. The brand recently cancelled plans to release the ID.7 in the US, while the ID. Buzz van has not achieved the sales momentum VW expected. By returning to classic names, the company hopes to broaden the appeal of its EVs and remind buyers that these cars are part of the Volkswagen family, not a separate science project.
The strategy echoes what Mini and Fiat have done with their own electric offerings. Both have leaned heavily on heritage, using nostalgia to soften the shift to battery power.
For Volkswagen, attaching EVs to badges like Polo, Golf, and GTI could be the same kind of play.
Production of the new Polo EV and the Cross EV will begin in 2026, with more models expected to follow. Whether or not these cars will make it to the US market remains uncertain, but the shift in naming philosophy is global.
The ID era gave Volkswagen a clean start in electrification. Now, the company is betting that tradition and familiarity will do more to win customers in an increasingly competitive EV landscape.
