Volkswagen has announced that its upcoming electric city hatchback will be called the ID.Polo, marking a significant shift in the company’s EV naming strategy. The model will make its full debut at the upcoming Munich Motor Show, before going on sale overseas in 2026.
With this move, Volkswagen is reintroducing some of its most recognisable model names for the electric era, starting with the Polo. The ID.Polo is the production version of the ID.2all concept, and it represents a break from the purely numeric naming convention that has so far defined the ID family. Going forward, familiar badges such as Polo, Golf, Tiguan, Passat – and even GTI – will return, this time powered entirely by batteries.
The ID.Polo is expected to combine the Polo’s traditional strengths of quality, safety, and everyday usability with Volkswagen’s latest EV technology. An aggressive price tag is being targeted, putting it squarely against upcoming rivals such as the Renault 5 and Mini Aceman and also the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq 3.
In an equally big development for enthusiasts, the Polo GTI badge will return in electric form. The ID.Polo GTI – based on last year’s ID.GTI concept – is also slated for a 2026 debut, promising strong EV performance and driving fun designed to win over hot hatch fans.
Apart from the ID. Polo, Volkswagen is also set to preview another key model at the Munich show: the ID.Cross Concept, an electric SUV that will serve as a battery-powered counterpart to the T-Cross. The production ID.Cross will launch in late 2026.
The new wave of ID models will also address customer feedback, with Volkswagen promising higher-quality interiors, more intuitive infotainment systems, and the return of physical buttons in the cabin.
First launched in 2018, the VW ID family currently includes the ID.3, ID.4, ID.5, ID.7 and the ID.Buzz MPV, with the upcoming ID.Polo likely to become one of the most important additions yet.