Volkswagen Admits Current EVs Stray from Brand Heritage; Next-Gen ID Line to Return to Classic Design and Naming

Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer recently stated publicly that current electric models such as the ID.3 and ID.4 lack traditional Volkswagen brand characteristics in their naming, exterior, and interior design, causing a disconnect with consumers. He revealed that the company plans to address this with an upcoming new generation of electric vehicles, starting with the debut of the first model, the ID.3 Neo. The new models will abandon the current numeric naming convention in favor of more distinctive model names, such as ID.Polo, ID.Cross, and ID.Tiguan—the latter set to replace the ID.4. Kai Grünitz, Volkswagen’s head of technical development, noted that user research shows customers want physical controls reinstated, including tangible air-conditioning buttons and conventional door handles, and prefer clearer, more intuitive model names. Recent spy photos reveal that the updated ID.4—renamed ID.Tiguan—will adopt styling closer to the current Tiguan, featuring a more squared-off front end and traditional SUV design cues.