VW SHAKES UP ITS EV NAME GAME – ID. 2ALL HAS BECOME THE ID. POLO - WAY TO CAPITALISE ON A KNOWN NAME.
Volkswagen is giving its EV lineup a serious identity shift. The German giant has decided it’s time to merge its electric future with the weight of its past, by carrying over the names of its most recognisable combustion models into the all-electric ID. family. First in line: the ID. Polo, due in 2026, which is based on the ID. 2all concept car.
Thomas Schäfer, Volkswagen brand CEO, summed it up neatly: “Our model names are firmly anchored in people’s minds. They stand for a strong brand and embody characteristics such as quality, timeless design and technologies for all. That’s why we’re moving our well-known names into the future. The ID. Polo is just the beginning.”
And it really is just the beginning. VW says that more established names will gradually migrate to the ID. portfolio as new generations roll out. Meanwhile, petrol and diesel versions will continue under their familiar badges, meaning both ICE and EV customers will be able to navigate the lineup without a branding headache.
The Polo is a household name in many parts of the world, a model that’s been around since 1975 and has shifted more than 18 million units globally. For its 50th anniversary, it’s getting a new lease on life as the ID. Polo, blending the Polo’s reputation for reliability and accessibility with VW’s EV tech.
Martin Sander, VW’s head of sales and marketing, explained the logic: “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.”
It’s not just the bread-and-butter Polo that’s getting the EV treatment. The legendary GTI badge is making the jump, too. The ID. GTI Concept, first shown at IAA 2023, will officially morph into the ID. Polo GTI when production kicks off in 2026. VW promises that the car won’t just be about range and efficiency - it’ll bring back the hot-hatch attitude with proper dynamics and driving fun. The IAA in Munich this September (8–14) will be the stage for VW’s first camouflaged prototypes of the ID. Polo and ID. Polo GTI. But before that, on 7 September, VW will also reveal the ID. CROSS Concept – a compact SUV that previews the all-electric ID. Cross, slated for launch at the end of 2026 as the battery-powered equivalent of the T-Cross.
This shift into smaller, more affordable EVs marks a new chapter for Volkswagen, one aimed squarely at mass adoption. Alongside new names, VW is listening to customer feedback: expect better cabin quality, more soft-touch surfaces, and a smarter mix of digital and physical controls (yes, buttons and knobs are back, alongside screens). Since 2018, Volkswagen has built out its all-electric ID. range, starting with the ID.3 hatchback. The lineup has grown to include the ID.4 and ID.5 SUVs, the ID. Buzz MPV, and the flagship ID.7 saloon and estate, which currently lead EV sales in Germany and across Europe. By pulling familiar names like Polo and GTI into the mix, VW is hoping to make the EV transition more intuitive - and more emotional - for drivers. The message is clear: Volkswagen’s future may be electric, but its history is coming along for the ride.
Take a look at the YouTube video where JÖNOHS takes a closer look at what will essentially be the electric version of the uber-popular VW Polo, as new naming reveals the ID.Polo to electrify an old nameplate: VW ID.2 will become the ID. Polo and will arrive in 2026 – REALLY! First impressions | JÖNOHS