Volkswagen Brand CEO Schäfer Unveils ID.Polo, Anchors Group’s Affordable EV Push

Volkswagen has turned to one of its most iconic nameplates to spearhead its mass-market EV push. Brand CEO Thomas Schäfer unveiled the ID. Polo at the IAA Munich Mobility Show, calling it a “deeply personal” project and the first model developed under his leadership. 

The €25,000 compact EV will be part of the Group’s new Electric Urban Car Family, designed to make electric mobility accessible to millions across Europe. The ID. Polo is one of four new urban EVs across Volkswagen, Cupra, and Škoda, based on the Group’s upgraded MEB+ platform. Produced in Spain under Seat Cupra’s lead, the project is expected to save over €600 million across its lifecycle. The cars offer up to 450 km range, fast charging, generous interior space, and features usually reserved for larger segments.

Schäfer positioned the ID. Polo is a natural continuation of Polo’s five-decade legacy of accessibility and practicality, but it has been updated for the electric era. “The answer is quality, safety, intuitive operations, smart tech from higher segments, timeless design, iconic names, and accessibility — just like the Polo has been doing for over 50 years,” he said.

He claimed that the new model introduces Volkswagen’s “pure positive” design language, with a clean interior, physical buttons, high-quality materials, and a focus on balancing simplicity with innovation. Schäfer confirmed that a GTI performance version and an SUV sibling to the ID and Polo are in the pipeline.

Volkswagen is also bringing down premium technologies to the compact category. Features include the evolved ID.7 software, travel assist with lane-change and traffic-light recognition, LED matrix headlights, and remote climate control via app.
Schäfer stressed that Volkswagen’s strength lies in its “brand group core,” which includes Volkswagen, Cupra, Seat, Škoda, and VW Commercial Vehicles.

These brands account for over 60% of the Group’s global volumes. “One platform and four bold identities. With our electric urban car family, we are shaping the future of electric mobility and making it accessible for millions across Europe,” he said.

The ID.Polo’s debut highlights Volkswagen’s strategy of using its volume brands as the group's engine room, anchoring the broader push to democratise EV technology while maintaining the brand’s identity built over decades.