Volkswagen Slams the ID Door Shut, Opens One with Familiar Names

Volkswagen is officially retiring its “ID” sub-brand for electric vehicles, choosing instead to embrace the weight and recognition of its legacy model names. Starting in 2026, future EVs will carry titles like Polo and Golf, signaling a strategic pivot to unify branding and simplify the lineup for consumers.

In a recent interview with Auto und Wirtschaft, VW’s head of sales and marketing, Martin Sander, confirmed that concept cars like the ID.2all and ID.Every1 will enter production under new names. The ID.2, for example, is likely to become the next-generation Polo—conveniently timed with that model’s 50th anniversary. Meanwhile, the entry-level ID.1 may inherit nostalgic badges like Lupo, Fox, or Up!

Volkswagen’s move follows a broader industry shift. Brands like Mercedes-Benz and Audi are also phasing out stand-alone electric nomenclatures in favor of a more integrated identity. The goal: make EVs feel like the next logical step, not a separate category entirely.

For Volkswagen, the rebrand is part of a bigger message—that electric cars are no longer futuristic novelties, but mainstream, better versions of what came before. The new models aim to be more affordable too, with the ID.2all (soon-to-be Polo) expected to start at €25,000 and the ID.Every1 around €20,000.

In the end, it’s not about killing the ID line—it’s about bringing electricity home to names people already trust.