Volkswagen electric vehicles are resurrecting names from the internal combustion engine era. The upcoming ID. Polo is the beginning. Future models like ID. Golf and ID. Beetle can also be expected.
According to Volkswagen Korea on the 5th, Volkswagen will introduce a new electric vehicle naming strategy that inherits the heritage of its bestselling internal combustion engine models. This strategy, which shares the historic names of existing models with the pure electric vehicle ID. family, will be first applied to the ID. Polo, known as the ID.2all concept, and the prototype will be unveiled at IAA Mobility 2025.
Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, noted, "The model names of Volkswagen, which have long been in people's memories, symbolize a strong brand and contain quality, timeless design, and technology for everyone. Now, these familiar names will carry on into the future, and the ID. Polo is the beginning."
Volkswagen plans to incorporate more familiar model names into its pure electric vehicle portfolio through generational changes, while maintaining the existing names of its internal combustion engine models. Through this strategy, Volkswagen aims to help customers intuitively understand the diverse product lineup that encompasses both electric and internal combustion vehicles.
The designation "ID." represents advanced technology and electrified mobility for Volkswagen electric vehicles. The Polo has long been a compact model representing quality, safety, and the democratization of innovation. The new ID. Polo, selected as the first model under the new naming strategy on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, combines the values of "ID." and "Polo."
Martin Sander, who oversees marketing, sales, and after-sales in the institutional sector of Volkswagen Passenger Cars, stated, "Volkswagen models have been with customers for a long time, shaping their lives and memories. The Polo, symbolizing trust, individuality, and history, is a model that exerts strong influence by its name alone." He added, "By inheriting model names that evoke everyday memories and emotions, we aim to create progressive yet familiar and personalized electric mobility."
In addition, Volkswagen will expand one of its strong brands, "GTI," into the electric vehicle domain. The production model of the ID. GTI concept, the ID. Polo GTI, is expected to be launched as the second ID. model in the entry segment in 2026, promising to deliver exceptional dynamism and driving enjoyment.
The camouflaged ID. Polo and ID. Polo GTI will be unveiled to the world for the first time at 'IAA Mobility 2025' in Munich, Germany, from September 8 to 14. Prior to this, the pure electric compact SUV 'ID. CROSS Concept' will be revealed for the first time on September 7. The production version of the ID. CROSS is scheduled for release by the end of 2026 and will serve as the electric vehicle counterpart to the T-Cross.
Volkswagen is opening a new era of more affordable electric vehicles through entry-level compact electric cars, including the ID. Polo and ID. CROSS. The designs of the new models have actively incorporated customer feedback. Representative features include high-quality finishes utilizing soft materials, a harmonious arrangement of digital and physical controls applied to the steering wheel and driver's seat, and a user-friendly and intuitive interface.
Since 2018, Volkswagen has used the ID. family naming for its dedicated pure electric vehicle lineup. The first ID. family model was the ID.3, followed by the ID.4 and ID.5, which have been introduced to the Korean market, and the ID.7, which leads the electric sedan and wagon market in Germany and Europe, where the naming strategy is applied by assigning numbers based on vehicle class.
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