Electric SUV gets new name

Volkswagen is renaming its ID4 electric SUV as the ID Tiguan as it continues its move away from numeric branding for its EVs.

The SUV will get the new name and a face-lift later this year, according to the IG Metall staff union, which disclosed the change at a press conference in Emden, Germany, where the company has a factory. The company declined to comment.

The move follows VW’s revised naming strategy unveiled at the IAA Mobility Show in Munich in September when it introduced the ID Polo, a small electric car, which will be sold alongside its fossil-fuelled sibling.

By reviving familiar model names, the carmaker aims to give its electric line-up more familiar and emotional resonance with customers.

The ID Tiguan name will make its debut when the ID4 gets a comprehensive refresh. The updated version is expected to more closely resemble the combustion-engined Tiguan in design and positioning.

Production of the electric SUV in Emden will continue until the end of 2031, according to IG Metall, although a successor has yet to be decided. The SUV is also built in Zwickau where production is scheduled to wind down. All future ID Tiguans will be produced in Emden.