After a few years on the road, Volkswagen’s electric ID4 is starting to feel familiar—and that’s exactly why its next update could be bigger than it looks. According to reports coming out of Germany, the 2027 refresh won’t just bring visual tweaks or tech updates. It may also bring a completely new name.
The idea is simple: make electric Volkswagens feel less like a separate experiment and more like part of the family. Under this new strategy, Volkswagen is reportedly planning to rename the ID4 as the ID Tiguan, aligning it directly with one of its most recognizable SUV nameplates. Instead of EVs standing alone under the “ID” umbrella, they would share names—and even design cues—with their gasoline-powered siblings.
Volkswagen has already started moving in this direction in Europe, pairing electric and combustion models under the same name to reduce confusion and add emotional weight to its EV lineup. The company believes buyers connect more easily with familiar names than abstract model codes—and it’s hard to argue with that logic.
The potential name change came to light during a press event involving IG Metall, which represents workers at the Emden plant where the European ID4 is built. This strategy was first outlined publicly at the IAA Mobility Show in 2025, where Volkswagen described the shift as a way to better link its electric future with its long-established identity.
In Europe, the transformation may go even deeper than a badge. Reports suggest the electric ID Tiguan could closely follow the styling of the combustion-powered Tiguan sold there, further blurring the line between EV and ICE models.
Things get more complicated on the American side. The ID4 sold in the U.S. is built in Chattanooga, while the U.S.-market Tiguan is a different vehicle altogether, produced in Puebla and based on a separate global platform. Because of those differences, Volkswagen may decide to keep the ID4 name in North America—at least for now.
For the moment, Volkswagen isn’t saying much. When asked directly, the company declined to comment, leaving the ID4’s future identity officially unconfirmed.
Still, the direction is clear. Volkswagen doesn’t want its electric cars to feel like outsiders anymore. Whether the name changes everywhere or only in certain markets, the message is the same: EVs aren’t the future of Volkswagen—they’re just Volkswagen.
