Electric cars have become a central part of Volkswagen’s global strategy, with a wide mix of models sold across Europe, Asia, and beyond. In the States, though, the lineup is far narrower, limited to just the ID.4 and the ID.Buzz. Even so, the ID.4 has taken on a critical role for the brand, climbing to Volkswagen’s third best-selling model in the country during the third quarter of this year.

Read: VW ID.4 Gets A Stealthy Blackout But Something Bigger Waits In The Shadows

In the third quarter, VW managed to sell a total of 87,705 vehicles in the US, consisting of 73,444 SUVs and 87,705 passenger cars. The company’s most popular model proved to be the Tiguan LWB, shifting 22,050 units, a 4 percent increase from Q3 last year. In second place was the Atlas, with 19,105 examples finding new homes, marking a 2 percent increase.

A Sharp Rise For The ID.4

Slotting into third place was the all-electric ID.4. Q3 sales hit 12,470, a dramatic 176 percent jump over the 4,518 sold in the same period last year. That single quarter accounted for a sizeable portion of the 22,125 ID.4s delivered nationwide so far in 2025.

Needless to say, the surge didn’t happen by chance. Like several other automakers, Volkswagen benefited from a rush of customers eager to secure their EV purchase before the federal EV tax credit expired on September 30.

Although the 2025 ID.4 did not qualify for the incentive, unlike the 2023 and 2024 models, it was available with the $7,500 rebate if leased. Now that the government’s incentive is no longer available, it’s likely there will be a decline in demand through the remaining three months of the year.

Where The Numbers Land

Looking at the year as a whole, the ID.4 ranks as VW’s sixth best-selling new vehicle in the States with 22,125 units sold. This positions it behind the Atlas (51,181), the Tiguan LWB (48,951), the Jetta (48,610), the Taos (40,524), and the Atlas Cross Sport (24,282).

In Q3, VW also managed to sell 2,469 ID.Buzzes, roughly 50 percent of all the examples it has sold through the entire year through September.

Correction: An earlier version of this story mistakenly referred to third-quarter sales as September sales.

VW US Sales 2025

Volkswagen has already learned the hard way that drivers aren’t keen on haptic controls, which is why the brand is reversing course and slowly, but gradually restoring physical buttons to the steering wheel. But a new patent filing shows the company is also exploring a different direction altogether, and this latest idea could prove even more frustrating than haptics ever were.

Read: VW Getting Rid Of Dreaded Touch-Sensitive Controls On Steering Wheels

The patent, filed earlier this month in Germany, describes a setup where a universal toggle switch would be fitted to the steering wheel, along with an eye-tracker in the center of the dashboard.

To operate basic features such as headlights or windshield wipers, the driver would need to look at the function they want and then activate it via the steering-wheel toggle.

Eyes On Everything

This setup could combine the eye-tracker with voice control, so you may not have to rely solely on your eyes to control a function. At least in theory, that is.

While Volkswagen’s system is certainly intriguing, it appears overly complicated and is likely to make errors. After all, if you quickly glance at the sunroof, hoping to slide back the sunshade, what’s going to prevent the system from thinking you actually want to open the roof, not just the shade?

Volkswagen argues in its patent filing that “an increasing number of functions/setting options leads to a deeper menu structure (softkey) or a multiplication of control elements (hardkey). The user is increasingly distracted from the traffic situation during operation.”

The reasoning isn’t wrong, but replacing simple buttons with a system that guesses your intentions feels like a recipe for distraction in its own right.

Back To Buttons

Importantly, we don’t actually expect to see VW employ a system like this anytime soon, if at all. The company is already committed to bringing back physical buttons for many important controls, including on the steering wheel and several key toggle switches below the infotainment screens of its next-generation models. The recent ID.Every1 Concept previewed these new buttons.

As for eye-tracking controls, they remain more of a speculative experiment than a real-world feature. If they ever do appear in production cars, don’t expect it to be anytime soon.

VW ID.Every1 Concept

Sources: Patent Office , Motor1,

It turns out that Porsche’s aggressive push into the world of EVs has not paid off the way the company hopped. In fact, the automaker admitted that its heavy commitment to EVs, followed by a sudden change of course, carved a €1.8 billion ($2.1 billion) hole in its operating profit. Investors reacted quickly, and Porsche shares in Frankfurt tumbled by as much as 9.3 percent, the sharpest intraday fall since its high-profile 2022 listing.

Read: Porsche Is Sneaking Gas Power Back Into The Next 718

Earlier this week, Porsche made the sudden, but not unexpected announcement, that its new flagship SUV, currently known as the K1, will not launch as a fully-electric model as originally planned and instead debut with combustion and plug-in hybrid powertrains. Porsche also confirmed that range-topping versions of the next-generation 718 Cayman and Boxster will be offered with combustion engines, despite the new models originally being designed exclusively as EVs.

The move is meant to stabilize margins, but it also makes clear that the brand’s earlier electric strategy was both too costly and out of step with what its customers actually wanted.

Shares in Freefall

Following news of the dramatic change of plans, Porsche’s share price in Germany slumped by as much as 9.3 percent and is down almost 30 percent this year, Bloomberg reports. The decline this year has been steep enough to push the company out of Germany’s DAX benchmark index. In addition, Porsche has already been forced to cut its profit guidance four times this year alone.

The ripple effects are also hitting the wider VW Group too. According to Bloomberg, the sports car maker’s parent company will take a €3 billion non-cash impairment related to Porsche’s decisions, prompting it to lower its operating return forecast from as much as 5 percent to between 2 percent and 3 percent.

Porsche 718 Boxster Electric

Baldauf

Doubts from Analysts

Auto analyst Matthias Schmidt told the publication that buyers “are putting little value on luxury electric cars,” which explains Porsche’s return to high-margin combustion models. Citi analyst Harald Hendrikse was even more direct, pointing out that “Porsche has now been disappointing investors for over two years. It is hard to conclude that these disappointments have now completed.”

Things are so bad that VW and Porsche chief executive Oliver Blume is facing mounting pressure to relinquish his role as the head of Porsche, allowing someone else to lead its turnaround. Reports state that the search for a new Porsche CEO has already started, and the Porsche-Piech families are having discussions with potential candidates.

Finding fresh roles for used car batteries is becoming a growing focus in the auto industry, and Stellantis has found a particularly human-centered application. Instead of letting end-of-life EV packs sit idle, the company is repurposing them for mobility solutions outside traditional cars.

More: Stellantis Is Quietly Building A Tri-Motor EV Setup That Can Power Itself

One of the most intriguing examples comes through a collaboration with startup Avathor, which has developed a compact EV tailored for wheelchair users and people with reduced mobility. Adding another interesting twist in this story is that the vehicle itself was penned by Italdesign, part of the Volkswagen Group.

This indirect and somewhat unusual collaboration between Stellantis and the VW Group likely stems from the fact that both Avathor and Italdesign are based in Turin. The Italian city is also a key hub for Stellantis, home to the Mirafiori facilities and the company’s main European headquarters.

From Road To Renewal

The process begins with Stellantis brands gathering batteries from retired EVs. These packs make their way to Turin, where SUSTAINera, Stellantis’ circular economy branch, focuses on extending their usefulness and cutting down on waste. A local partner, Intent S.r.l., then disassembles the 15 kWh modules, repackaging them for fresh duties.

For the Avathor One, the modules are reconfigured in 1.4 kWh short-range or 2.8 kWh long-range batteries, offering up to 50 km (31 mph) between charges with a top speed limited to 10 km/h (6 mph).

Avathor / Italdesign

What Is The Avathor One?

The Avathor One was launched earlier this year as the production model derived from the futuristic 2019 WheeM-i concept by Italdesign. It has a rear ramp for wheelchair access, a pull-out bench, and joystick controls.

Measuring just 1,486 mm (58.5 inches) in length, the EV comes fitted with car-like features such as LED headlights, a rearview camera, and collision-avoidance sensors that recognize both obstacles and pedestrians. It can handle gradients of up to 20 percent and climb steps up to 8 cm (3 inches) high.

According to the company, the goal is to launch the Avathor in Italy later this year, followed by Spain in 2026 and other markets in 2027.

Beyond Mobility Aids

Beyond the Avathor project, Stellantis SUSTAINera is also working with utility providers and battery integrators. One notable example is the ENEL X Pioneer system, which stores renewable energy at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport and is projected to cut CO2 emissions by 16,000 tons over ten years.

Of course, Stellantis isn’t the only automaker that is active in the circular economy with second-life batteries. Other brands such as Nissan, Renault, BMW, Kia, Geely, Jaguar, Toyota, Honda, Skoda, and Audi have all been involved in similar projects.

Stellantis

Volkswagen has already confirmed that it’s bringing the Polo name back on the artist formerly known as the ID. 2 electric hatch, adding that an ID. Golf, ID. Tiguan and ID. Roc are all in development, though running behind schedule. But now we hear another long-running combustion name is leaping into electric power as the ID. Touareg.

The Touareg, VW’s flagship SUV in Europe, which is scheduled to die next year, has been around for almost 25 years across three generations, each one sharing a platform with the Porsche Cayenne. But while the new Cayenne Electric, set to debut this winter, is based around VW’s PPE platform, which is the same one used in the Macan Electric and Audi A6 and Q6 e-trons, the Touareg isn’t due to arrive until 2029. That delay allows it to leap straight to VW’s upcoming SSP architecture.

Related: VW Is Killing Its Flagship SUV As It Bets On Cheaper Models

Germany’s Automobilwoche reports that the ID. Touareg will, in fact, be the first VW model to benefit from the new platform. That honor was supposed to go to the ID. Roc, the electric counterpart to the combustion T-Roc, but the launch of both that SUV and the ID. Golf has reportedly been pushed back to 2030.

Worries over costs and complications with shifting ICE Golf production from Germany to Mexico, intended to free up space for SSP models, are behind the delay, a report claimed this week.

Rivian Code, VW Badge

SSP-based models, including the ID. Touareg, will feature zonal architecture and software developed by Rivian, as will the Scout SUV that the Volkswagen Group is developing for sale in North America. But the German publication’s sources say Scout-branded EVs won’t come to Europe, and the ID. Touareg won’t be sold in the US.

That decision reflects history as much as strategy. America did get the Touareg during its initial launch in 2003, but pulled it from sale in 2017, effectively replacing it with the locally-built Atlas, which has a third row of seats that the Touareg has always strangely lacked. Volkswagen seems content to keep those roles divided.

Volkswagen has been busy showing off shiny new EVs like the upcoming ID. Cross in concept form and confirming an all-electric Polo, but behind the scenes the story isn’t quite so polished. VW will reportedly delay the launch of at least two upcoming models, citing production snags, softening demand, and mounting cost pressures.

First Victims: ID. Roc and ID. Golf

The first model expected to be hit by the delay is believed to be the ID. Roc. Although VW hasn’t officially confirmed it yet, the SUV is set to debut as the first vehicle on the new SSP platform and was originally due in fall 2029. Unnamed inside sources told Germany’s Handelsblatt that its launch has slipped to summer 2030. The ID. Golf is also reportedly being pushed back to around 2030, despite earlier plans for a release later this decade.

Read: Next VW Golf EV Will Ride On Rivian’s Electric Architecture

Money, or a lack thereof, is thought to be one of the major reasons behind the schedule change. VW is currently preparing an important roundtable meeting of its Supervisory Board to determine the capacity utilization of all of its global factories and to financially plan for the next five years. The company cut costs by €15 billion ($17.5 billion) last year and is planning even more cuts this year.

According to Handelsblatt, VW is eager to pour billions into new platforms and plant retooling, but it needs to tread carefully with the funds available. One plan had been to move production of the combustion-powered Golf from Wolfsburg, Germany, to a facility in Mexico by 2027, clearing space for SSP-based EVs like the ID. Roc. That shift, however, may also face delays.

Overinvested In EV Dreams

As a result, Wolfsburg may not see EV production until 2028 at the earliest. Similarly, Volkswagen could push back plans to shift ID.3 and Cupra Born production from Zwickau to Wolfsburg, originally targeted for 2027.

According to a company insider, electric car sales haven’t been as strong as VW had hoped. “While unit sales are increasing, our original investments were geared toward significantly higher volumes. We are completely overinvested,” the insider told the German publication.

There are big shifts underway at Volkswagen. The brand is not only preparing a raft of new EVs like the ID. Cross and an all-electric Polo that have been previewed in near production form, but it’s also rethinking design to broaden appeal. That means moving back toward features that feel more familiar to shoppers, including something as simple as returning to traditional door handles instead of the flush pop-out ones so many EV makers favor.

Read: VW’s ID. Cross Might Finally Be What Budget Buyers Have Been Waiting For

At the IAA Mobility show in Munich, VW boss Thomas Schäfer sat down with Deutsche Welle and touched on several topics, including the slowdown in EV sales across major markets like Europe and the United States. Asked whether VW was making a conscious effort to make its EVs more approachable, Schäfer was quick to emphasize the value of familiarity.

Back To Basics

“People expect some sort of familiarity with the vehicle, with the brand, that they are buying into,” he said. “People buy brands so from that point of view, functions have to be easy. You know, like door handles for example. It’s all nice to have these flush door handles but they are terrible to operate, so we definitely have proper door handles on the cars and customers appreciate it. It’s the feedback we’re getting.”

More: Hate Retractable Door Handles? China Might Finally Make Them Go Away

And he’s not alone. As we recently reported, regulators in China are also eyeing flush and retractable handles, considering a ban after safety concerns and accident investigations. Given the size and influence of China’s auto market, such a move could ripple far beyond its borders, pushing other automakers to rethink their approach to what was once a trendy design cue.

While the ID. Every1 concept unveiled earlier this year featured flush door handles, both the ID. Cross and the ID. Polo previewed in Munich use more traditional ones. They may sacrifice some aerodynamic efficiency, but they’re far easier to operate in everyday life.

The Broader EV Transition

In the same interview, Schäfer also discussed VW’s wider transition to electric vehicles. He argued that electromobility is the superior option for buyers but questioned whether demand and infrastructure will grow fast enough for Volkswagen to stop selling ICE-powered models in the European Union by 2035.

“The end result is clear,” he said. “The question is can we make it fast enough for 2035? Is the uptake and the infrastructure growth for charging happening fast enough so that 2035 is a realistic goal? he said. “Whether it’s a couple of years later, it needs to be reviewed.”

The presence of Chinese automakers added some international flavor to this week’s Munich Motor Show, but in reality the event was more about familiar German brands and their new, and in some cases unfamiliar, faces.

Related: Star-Stricken Mercedes GLC EV Has A Grille Big Enough To Swallow A BMW iX3

All of the big German automakers were on hand with fresh concept cars and production models that showcased new stylistic directions. It feels like we’re at one of those moments where car design is changing across the industry for premium European brands after a period during which the big players have struggled to reinvent themselves and work out how to differentiate EV and combustion cars, or whether to even differentiate them at all. But have the Germans really rediscovered their design mojo?

Photos Stefan Baldauf & Guido ten Brink

Let’s start with BMW and the iX3, arguably the biggest story from the show because it’s about so much more than a new SUV. The iX3 is the first of the Neue Klasse cars and brings a fresh design language that will shape the brand’s entire lineup for the next decade, as well as a crucial new EV platform.

There was some murmuring here at Carscoops that the iX3’s profile deviated too far from Munich’s conventions, but overall this has to be viewed as a massive hit. BMW designs have mostly either been butt ugly or blandly handsome over the last 20 years, but finally here’s a fresh, modern-looking car with real presence, and one that brilliantly manages to riff on the classic face of old-timers without looking like a lazy retro rip-off.

Photos Stefan Baldauf & Guido ten Brink

To our eyes, the iX3’s key rival, the electric Mercedes GLC, is far less successful. The body looks flabby and dull next to the BMW’s and while we’re all for the three-pointed star marque borrowing some classic inspiration to put new energy into its famous grille, the light-up nose on the GLC, which will find its way onto other future models as well, looks like an afterthought here.

Photos Stefan Baldauf & Guido ten Brink

Audi’s Concept C looked far more confident. Previewing an electric TT successor that will share tech with the upcoming Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman EVs, it takes inspiration from both the TT and Auto Union’s 1930s Type C racers.

We’re reminded of the string of uber-strong Bauhaus-infused concept cars Audi delivered in the late 1990s and early 2000s, many of which made production, as well as Jaguar’s Type 00 concept, though we think Audi did a better job.

Photos Stefan Baldauf & Guido ten Brink

Volkswagen’s ID. Polo and Polo GTI, the near-production versions of the car we previously knew as the ID.2, looked less radical in comparison, but they still represent a shift in the automaker’s design that hearkens back to the solid shapes and surfaces that made some of the brand’s biggest sellers so enduring.

Think about how fresh the Mk4 Golf still looks almost 30 years after we first met it, or the Mk1 does more than 50 years after it debuted. That’s the kind of self-assured, non-faddy style the ID. Polo embraces, but at the same time the ID. Cross showed VW could also have some fun with the same design language.

Photos Stefan Baldauf & Guido ten Brink

And now it’s time for our question of the day: do you think the German automakers have got their design act together, or do some of them need to get back to the drawing board? And in the battle of the grilles, who did it best – BMW, Audi or Mercedes? Leave a comment below and let us know your opinions and the reasoning behind them.

Audi/BMW/Mercedes

Concept cars often spark the imagination, and the Volkswagen EVX is no exception. With its sharp angles and an aggressive stance, it looks every bit the futuristic coupe crossover. Yet despite its eye-catching form, the odds of it ever making it to production are near to zero. Designed by the specialists at Italdesign, the EVX takes shape as a 2+2 coupe based on the VW Group’s MEB+ platform.

Read: VW ID.4 Gets A Stealthy Blackout But Something Bigger Waits In The Shadows

Admittedly, calling the EVX a coupe might be stretching the definition, but in all fairness, it does at least come with two doors, unlike most crossovers that borrow the coupe label while offering little more than a sloping roofline.

It measures 166.5 inches (4,230 mm) long, 71.6 inches (1,820 mm) wide, and strands 58.6 inches (1,490 mm) tall, meaning it’s roughly 4.7 inches (120 mm) longer than a VW T-Cross, 2.3 inches (60 mm) wider, and sits 3.4 inches (87 mm) lower.

Breaking From the Mold

It seems that Italdesign, which is owned by the VW Group, was given a blank sheet when creating the car, not needing to draw on influences from existing VW models. This has allowed it to create a car that looks unlike any other VW Group product and, in the extremely unlikely event that it was ever produced, it would also stand out from all the cookie-cutter crossovers on the market right now. It reminds us a little of the latest-gen Toyota C-HR sold in Europe, but isn’t as quirky.

Found at the front is a blacked-out lower grille and two triangular air intakes housing small LED daytime running lights. There are also a pair of sharp LED headlights that catch the eye, as well as a shapely hood with plenty of curves and creases.

From the side, the concept shows off camera-based mirrors mounted on the A-pillars, two-tone wheels in silver and black, and muscular rear arches. The rear design keeps the drama going with a steeply angled rear window, slim LED taillights, and a blacked-out bumper.

Only in the Digital World?

For now, VW is displaying the EVX virtually at the Munich motor show. Whether such a design could ever make it to production remains uncertain, though it’s fair to say it would shake up the usual crossover formula if it did. So the real question is, if a model like this hit the road, would it turn your head or just feel like another electric crossover trying too hard?

• Volkswagen has introduced a new Black Package for the 2025 ID.4.
• It adds black mirror caps and door handles as well as 20-inch wheels.
• A facelifted crossover is already in the works and can’t arrive fast enough.

Earlier this year, Volkswagen announced the 2026 ID.4 would be getting a minor update, which would see the S Plus trim equipped with HomeLink. That wasn’t exactly a riveting change, but it’s interesting to note as the company has just announced an update to the 2025 model.

The S and S Plus are gaining a new Black Package, which promises to deliver an “even bolder, more distinctive look.” As the name suggests, it adds an assortment of black components including the mirror caps and door handles. Buyers will also find black badging and dark 20-inch alloy wheels. S Plus variants go a step further as they add an auto-dimming driver’s side mirror.

More: Here’s What’s Coming To VW’s 2026 Lineup

The Black Package costs $695 on both trims. However, pricing for the ID.4 Pro S starts at $50,195, while the all-wheel drive-only ID.4 Pro S Plus begins at $57,295.

The rear-wheel drive variant has 282 hp (210 kW / 286 PS) and 291 miles (468 km) of range, while all-wheel drive models have 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS) and 263 miles (423 km) of range.

From ID.4 to ID. Tiguan?

While it’s a little late in the model year for updates, bigger developments are on the horizon. In particular, Volkswagen confirmed a “mid-model-year change” is coming in 2026 and it will see the ID.4 “receive additional features.”

Details are limited, but Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer has previously described the update as a complete “redo” inside and out. He also suggested the changes will be so extensive that the facelifted variant will be a “completely different car – a huge step up.”

We can also expect a revamped interior with a greater emphasis on physical switchgear. Rumors have even suggested the model could be called the ID. Tiguan as the automaker has moved away from alphanumeric monikers and embraced names such as ID. Cross and ID. Polo.

Volkswagen is going back to its roots and putting a new focus on the core strengths that made us love its cars in the first place. That’s the message the automaker put out at this year’s Munich Motor Show, where it revealed some of the models that make up the new “true Volkswagen” family it hopes will help it fight rivals from China.

Related: VW Revives Polo Name For EV Era And Teases First Ever Electric GTI

Most obviously, the names of the ID. Polo and its GTI twin, plus the ID. Cross, an electric alternative to the popular T-Cross combustion crossover, tells us that VW is putting new energy into its best-known badges and bringing its ICE and electric lines closer together. An ID. Golf will arrive by 2028, and a production version of the ID. Every1 concept, which could be called ID. Up, lands in 2027.

A Broader Commitment

But VW’s commitment to its core strengths goes deeper than simply ensuring familiar badges don’t fade away in the electric age. The automaker claimed it’s now focusing on new design, high standards of quality, attractive price-performance ratio, and innovative technologies.

“Our goal for the next five years is clear,” said VW brand CEO Thomas Schäfer. “By 2030 we want to establish ourselves as the leading high-volume manufacturer for pioneering technology.”

Schäfer’s boss, VW Group CEO Oliver Blume claimed the new family of EVs with improved software and battery tech has what it takes to protect the company from Chinese EVs steadily infiltrating Europe’s car market.

“Competition, for me, is very positive,” Blume told CNBC. “It is like in sport: when you have good competitors, you have to be better. That’s what we have been prepared to do in the last years, in terms of improving ourselves. I don’t fear the competition.”

Blume thinks VW can improve on its 28 percent electrified market share, but those qualities that promise to make cars like the ID. Cross a hit won’t be restricted to EVs, the automaker says. The automaker’s Munich stand also featured the facelifted version of the big-selling T-Roc crossover, the T-Cross’s big brother, along with the Tayron SUV launched earlier this year.

Update: We’ve added live shots from the Munich Motor Show, so you can see the ID. Cross Concept in all its glossy, under-the-spotlights glory.

VW really pulled out the stops for this year’s IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich, revealing not one but three new electric cars. We’ve already had a look at the ID. Polo (neé ID.2) and ID. Polo GTI, but the third EV is an even bigger deal. It’s the ID. Cross Concept and it previews next year’s production SUV, one with massive sales potential.

Also: VW Revives Polo Name For EV Era And Teases First Ever Electric GTI

Photos Stefan Baldauf & Guido ten Brink

The Cross name tells us this subcompact utility is an electric equivalent to the existing T-Cross combustion crossover, though the name is about all they have in common. The ID. Cross is one of a family of upcoming small EVs built around a new front-wheel-drive version of the MEB platform.

Other models in the family include the ID. Polo and ID. Polo GTI, both expected to hit showrooms in 2026, as well as a production version of the ID. Every1 concept shown earlier this year, which could wear the ID. Up name when it launches in 2027.

Design and Dimensions

Though it rides on virtually the same 2,601 mm (102.4 inches) wheelbase as the ID. Polo (the hatch’s WB is 1mm shorter), the 4,161 mm (163.8 inches) long ID. Cross is 108 mm (4.3 inches) longer and most obviously 58 mm (2.3 inches) taller. There’s 490 liters (17.3 cu.ft) of luggage space in the rear, plus a 25-liter (0.9 cu-ft) frunk, something no other ID EV, including the ID. Polo, has offered.

The handsome, but conservatively designed Polo also misses out on some of the Cross’s bolder and more modern design details. These include a front fascia shaped by the interplay of LED lighting elements that VW describes as “friendly,” along with three illuminated rectangles embedded in a black C-pillar, an intentional nod to both the ID. Buzz and the original Bus that inspired it.

Black plastic trims exaggerate the size of the gently flared arches, which are cut high into the bodywork, while the 21-inch wheels are wrapped in special Continental tires that carry the alloy rim’s pattern into the sidewall. It’s a clever visual flourish, though one that’s impractical, hard to see in the real world, and sure to make tire shops roll their eyes.

Relaxing Interior with Some Physical Buttons

Inside, there are clear echoes of the ID2.all concept that previewed the ID. Polo back in 2023 (VW hasn’t released ID. Polo interior pics yet). An 11-inch digital instrument cluster lies beyond a chunky, square-shaped two-spoke steering wheel and a larger, 13-inch tablet touchscreen is mounted on the top of the dashboard’s center.

Thankfully, VW has listened to criticism of its earlier cars, and a bank of hard buttons is located below, meaning you don’t have to go stabbing at virtual buttons to change the cabin temperature. There’s also a small iDrive-style rotary controller on the console.

Related: VW ID. Cross Promises Big Looks At A Small Price

And if you don’t want to be overwhelmed by digital information, you simply flip your smartphone so it lies face-down on the wireless charging pad. Do that that and the displays switch to ‘calm status,’ only showing essential info.

That’s not the only way the ID. Cross’s designers have tried to create a relaxing environment. Ambient lighting, fabric-covered surfaces and the Vanilla Chai (read: beige) coloring used throughout the concept’s interior are designed to calm passengers by taking cues from Parisian haute couture and high-end furniture.

For fully horizontal relaxation time, the front and rear seats fold completely flat, meaning you could sleep in the back like you would in a classic VW Bus, albeit with a fair bit less wriggle room. To ensure maximum comfort the seat backrests are finished in a material Volkswagen likens to a comfortable yoga mat.

Powertrain and Range

The German automaker has already confirmed the availability of two battery options for the Polo, but is staying tightlipped about the Cross’s battery hardware, other than revealing it can deliver a 261-mile (420 km) WLTP electric range. A single motor mounted in the nose sends 208 hp (211 PS / 155 kW) to the front wheels, slightly less than the 223 hp (226 PS / 166 kW) mustered by the ID. Polo GTI, VW’s first ever GTI EV.

Related: Sales Collapse Forces VW To Slash Production Of Its Model Y Rival

Officially, the ID. Cross is just a concept, but next summer’s production SUV is going to be virtually identical. In fact, VW even makes a point of mentioning that the interior door handles, which you pull upwards, are production ready. And that should worry rival carmakers because we think VW has nailed this EV’s design in a way it totally failed to do with the ID.4 and ID.7.

US sales are yet to be confirmed, but the ID. Cross will cost from around £25k/€28k when it launches late in 2026 against electric crossovers like the Kia EV2, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Ford Puma Gen-E and Volvo EX30.

VW

The ID.4 was supposed to be VW’s answer to the Tesla Model Y, the world’s best-selling electric vehicle. However, Volkswagen of America has revealed it will reduce production of the all-electric SUV at its Chattanooga plant, indicating that it is simply not selling locally in the numbers the German brand had hoped.

Read: You Can Lease A VW ID.4 From Just $56 A Month

A total of 160 employees will be furloughed at the plant starting in late October. If there’s a glimmer of good news for employees impacted, it’s that VW will supplement unemployment from the state of Tennessee, so workers will be paid 80 percent of their base compensation and continue to receive full benefits.

Production Scaled Down

Speaking with Auto News, a VW spokesperson said that moving forward, fewer ID.4s will be assembled during each production shift.

“This adjustment in no way changes our commitment to the ID4, our growing EV portfolio, or our commitment to our Chattanooga team,” they said. “This is a market-driven decision, based on aligning our production volume to market demand.”

While production of the ID.4 will be reduced, the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport will still be built at their current in Chattanooga.

Sales Numbers Tell the Story

A quick look at the sales numbers reveals why the production changes are being made. Through the second quarter of this year, US sales of the ID.4 dropped 65 percent. For the first six months of 2025, they are down 19 percent. Clearly, it doesn’t make sense for VW to continue building as many units as it used to if there’s insufficient demand.

More: VW Revives Polo Name For EV Era And Teases First Ever Electric GTI

It must be noted that it’s not just 2025 that has proven to be a tough one for the electric SUV. The previous year, VW only managed to shift about 17,000 units in the US, a significant fall from the roughly 38,000 that were sold in 2023.

We’ve known for a while that Volkswagen was rethinking its electric vehicle naming strategy, but the finer points were left vague until now. The company has confirmed that the production version of the ID.2 all concept will be called the ID. Polo, with the sportiest version carrying the GTI badge, which is a first for an electric VW.

More: VW ID. Cross Promises Big Looks At A Small Price

“Our model names are firmly anchored in people’s minds,” said Thomas Schafer, CEO of the VW brand. “They stand for a strong brand and embody characteristics such as quality, timeless design and technologies for all. That’s why we’re moving our well-known names into the future. The ID. Polo is just the beginning.”

This approach means Volkswagen will blend its classic model names with the ID prefix for future EVs. That opens the door for possibilities like an ID. Tiguan down the line. To highlight the change, the company is showing camouflaged versions of both the standard ID. Polo and the ID. Polo GTI at the IAA Mobility motor show in Munich, offering the public an early look at what’s due next year.

From Concept to Production

From what we can decipher, the production models remain faithful to the ID.2 all and ID.2 GTI concepts. That’s anything but surprising, given that both were already presented as a near-production cars rather than far-off prototypes.

The overall design carries Volkswagen’s usual restraint, while the GTI version sharpens the edges with larger and intricately styled wheels, subtly flared arches, bespoke bumpers, a front diffuser, and a split spoiler on the tailgate. The stance sits lower, as you’d expect from a GTI.

“We are bringing one of our strongest brands, the GTI, into the electric world,” added Martin Sander, VW board member for sales and marketing. “Also launching in 2026, the ID. GTI Concept model will go into production as the ID. Polo GTI. It will offer outstanding dynamics and plenty of driving pleasure.”

Platform and Performance

Underneath, the ID. Polo is built on the electric-only MEB Entry platform. It measures 4,053 mm (159.5 in) long, 1,816 mm (71.5 in) wide, and 1,530 mm (60.2 in) tall, making it just a touch larger than the Alpine A290. All versions are expected to use a single motor driving the front wheels. For the GTI, output is projected at 223 horsepower, with rumors pointing to an even more focused Clubsport variant in the near future.

Production of the ID. Polo is scheduled to begin in time for a European launch in early 2026. VW has no plans to bring the subcompact hatchback to North America. At the same Munich show, the company will also reveal the ID. Cross Concept, a compact electric SUV that previews the production ID. Cross. Scheduled for release at the end of 2026, it will serve as the electric counterpart to the T-Cross.

Volkswagen’s lineup for the IAA Mobility Show in Munich will include more than just the next-generation T-Roc. Visitors will also get a first conceptual look at an upcoming entry-level electric SUV, previewed in official design sketches that surfaced ahead of schedule.

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The images were posted on social media by Andreas Mindt, Volkswagen’s head of design. While the teaser stops short of revealing a name, it describes the model as a “near-production concept car.” Positioned as the zero-emission counterpart to the T-Cross, it will also serve as a smaller sibling to the popular ID.4.

Big presence in a small package

Although it sits in the subcompact SUV class, the sketches give the model a surprisingly imposing presence, helped along by oversized alloy wheels and stretched proportions. It is worth remembering, though, that design drawings often exaggerate these elements, and in this case we are still looking at a concept rather than a finished production car.

The front end sports slim LED headlights and a rugged skid plate on the bumper. The profile features sculpted fenders similar to the ID.Every1 concept, and a wraparound greenhouse. Finally, the rear end sports full-width taillights and a futuristic diffuser with extra LEDs. The latter will likely be toned-down in the final product together with some other details.

Andreas Mindt / Instagram

Under the skin

The SUV will ride on MEB Entry underpinnings, just like the production versions of the ID.1Every and ID.2All hatchback concepts. Buyers can expect both front- and all-wheel-drive versions, with single- and dual-motor configurations likely in the lineup.

More: Toyota’s Smallest EV Hides Suzuki Roots With A Cheeky Land Cruiser Nod

Volkswagen hasn’t confirmed when the production version will arrive, though a debut next year seems plausible. The EV will be produced at the Pamplona facility in Spain, next to the ICE-powered T-Cross and Taigo crossovers that also occupy the B-SUV segment. The same factory will be home of production for the closely-related Skoda Epiq that was shown in concept form last year.

How much will it cost?

With the ID.2all hatchback targeting a €25,000 starting price in Germany (about $27,000), including the country’s 19% Value-Added Tax, this higher-riding SUV is expected to slot slightly above, likely in the €25,000–30,000 range (roughly $27,000 to $32,000).

When it arrives, it will enter a crowded arena of compact electric SUVs, competing with models such as the Kia EV2 and EV3, Toyota Urban Cruiser, Suzuki e-Vitara, Ford Puma Gen-E, Peugeot E-2008, Opel Mokka Electric, Jeep Avenger, Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica, and Volvo EX30.

While Western auto shows have largely died since the COVID-19 pandemic, September’s Munich Motor Show remains an important event on the automotive calendar and will host the unveiling of the new VW T-Roc. This second-generation model will be sold with ICE, hybrid, and battery electric powertrains and has just been teased for the first time.

The image released of the T-Roc shows a black prototype covered with bright yellow text. Although it only shows the new model from the side, it’s obvious that this is the same vehicle that leaked images revealed earlier this year.

Read: VW’s Electric T-Roc Will Be Separate From The ICE Version

Those photos showed the new T-Roc with a thoroughly revised front fascia, including a large black grille with honeycomb-shaped cutouts, sharp headlights, and an LED light bar. Plenty of changes have also been made to the rear of the model, including the fitment of new LED taillights.

While the T-Roc may not be sold in the United States, it is a hugely important car for VW in Europe. In fact, it consistently ranks among the top-selling models on the continent, often rivaling the likes of the Golf, Renault Clio, and Dacia Sandero in terms of volume. As such, this new model had better win over customers, or else VW’s European struggles could be compounded.

Expanding The Powertrain Mix

In addition to the combustion models, VW will offer the new T-Roc with a full-hybrid system that will be offered in the Golf and Tiguan too. The setup combines a petrol engine with an electric motor that can power the rear wheels on its own or work together with the engine, operating much like Toyota’s approach where the system can switch between petrol, electric, or a blend of both as needed.

VW chief executive Thomas Schäfer noted that this hybrid variant will be particularly important in South America.

“We needed to do it anyway, because South America has a need for an HEV drivetrain – and the T-Roc is built in South America for South America, and also in China,” he told Autocar. “Interestingly enough, HEV has also become a big theme in the US specifically. It’s a technology that everybody said was not necessary any more, but now with the BEV slowdown in the US, the balance is [moving towards] HEVs.”

Electric Future

The electric version of the T-Roc will be underpinned by VW’s new Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), becoming only the second model to use this architecture. It will bring with it ultra-fast charging and Level 4 autonomous capabilities.

Touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons seemed futuristic when Volkswagen introduced them, but they’ve sparked more frustration than admiration. Now, according to a new class action lawsuit in the US, these capacitive controls may not just be inconvenient – they could pose a genuine safety risk.

Read: VW Getting Rid Of Dreaded Touch-Sensitive Controls On Steering Wheels

A few years back, Volkswagen admitted that touch-sensitive steering wheel buttons were a misstep and pledged to return to physical switches in future models. That decision, however, does little for current owners still stuck with controls that the common consensus is that they are far too finicky.

According to the lawsuit, these overly sensitive controls mean it’s possible to automatically engage the Adaptive Cruise Control with a “mere light brush of the hand,” potentially putting drivers in dangerous situations.

Focus on the ID.4

The case is focused on VW ID.4 models equipped with these capacitive buttons and names two plaintiffs who are reportedly now “terrified and hesitant” to drive their vehicles. The class action also alleges that VW has failed to disclose the alleged defect, nor has it offered its customers suitable repairs or replacements free of charge, or even offered to reimburse its customers.

It’s also been alleged that VW has known about the problem because of customer complaints, internal records, and information sent from dealers.

The plaintiffs involved assert that Volkswagen is guilty of common law fraud by omission, alongside breach of express and implied warranty and unjust enrichment. The lawsuit has been filed in a New Jersey federal court and also asserts that the company has violated consumer protection laws in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

While it’s been almost three years since VW said it’d ditch its capacitive steering wheel controls, we will have to wait until the launch of the all-electric ID.2all before physical steering wheel buttons make a return. As such, it’ll likely take the German brand several years to completely phase out the haptic switches from the rest of its model range.

If you thought subscription fatigue was already creeping into your streaming accounts, Volkswagen is happy to add some more to your car. Over in the UK, entry-level ID.3 Pure models, listed as having 168 hp (170 kW) on VW’s configurator, actually have just 148 hp (110 kW) unless buyers pay an extra fee. Yes, Volkswagen is charging customers more to give the power their cars already have.

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As far as subscriptions go, this one is somewhat baffling. 20 horsepower and 33 lb-ft isn’t all that much to write home about. It’s such a small boost in power that Volkswagen says it won’t affect the overall range of the ID.3 at all.

The Cost of Extra Power

British drivers can cough up £16.50 (equal to $22.50 at current exchange rates) per month for the upgrade, almost three times the price of a basic Netflix subscription, or £165 ($225) per year. If you want to skip the monthly hassle, VW also offers a one-time “lifetime” payment of £649 ($878). It’s unclear whether that’s tied to the car or your user account, but either way, it’s a lot of cash for a modest performance bump.

According to AutoExpress, the added power won’t affect insurance rates. That’s great and all, but it’s because the ID.3 is rated at 168 hp from the factory, even if you’re driving around without the upgrade and, thus, with 20 fewer ponies. Only time will tell whether or not owners figure out how to hack this system – and if they do, whether this voids Volkswagen’s warranty or not.

Volkswagen’s Defense

On its part, Volkswagen compared this approach to traditional engine lineups, where the same displacement could be offered in multiple states of tune at different price points. In a statement to the magazine, the company said:

“Offering more power to customers is nothing new… These traditionally are higher up in the product range, with more specification and a higher list price. If customers wish to have an even sportier driving experience, they now have an option to do so, within the life of the vehicle, rather than committing from the outset with a higher initial purchase price. The car is presented on the configurator with [201bhp], with the option made very clear to customers.”

Subscriptions, Subscriptions Everywhere

Obviously, the VW ID.3 is far from the only one playing the subscription game. This isn’t even the only subscription available from the German brand. It’ll also sell customers ambient lighting, navigation, voice control, and even heated seats via subscription

And it’s hardly alone. BMW, Mercedes, and Tesla all offer similar unlocks, though when it comes to performance, most rivals deliver more value per dollar.

Ford offers 100 lb-ft (135 Nm) of torque for $995, Polestar 68 more horsepower for $1,195, and Mercedes 60-110 hp for $1,200. Even gas-burning tunes from the factory offer more power per dollar than Volkswagen for doing little more than changing some code. Call me cynical, but that’s not shocking from what seems like the world’s least passionate automaker.