Dive Brief:
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Volkswagen announced Monday that its successor to the ID.4 EV will be called ID. Tiguan. The new naming strategy brings what used to be called the ID.4 into the Tiguan family. It follows the recently revealed ID. Polo and ID. Cross, which still use the “ID” prefix but employ familiar model names rather than numbers.
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The automaker described the ID. Tiguan as having a “completely new design,” according to a release. Photos accompanying the news suggest extensively refreshed front, rear and lower-body styling.
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The all-electric model builds on the strengths of the bestseller and offers premium design, generous space, intuitive operation and innovative technologies,” said Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand. “Together, both models form a strong offering for our customers’ different powertrain preferences.”
Dive Insight:
The Tiguan is currently the brand’s top-selling model in the world, at a cumulative 8.3 million produced. VW says that it’s delivered more than 950,000 units of the ID.4 and its ID.5 fastback variant since 2021. With the ID. Tiguan included, and a future US-bound VW Tiguan Hybrid confirmed, that will give the German automaker a model family in the same class as the top-selling Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, but with gasoline, hybrid, and fully electric variants.
“The ID. Tiguan is planned to succeed the ID.4 in the North American market,” Volkswagen of America said in a statement emailed to WardsAuto. “Following its European launch in early 2027, Volkswagen will share North American timing and additional market-specific details in due course.”
Volkswagen had already suggested it planned to reposition its U.S.-bound EV. Earlier this year, VW’s board member for sales, marketing and after-sales, Martin Sander, said that the automaker has “lost its way” with its ID EV lineup and would be returning to “true Volkswagen” qualities across the brand.
The automaker initially launched the ID.4 as the first model of its new all-electric ID sub-brand in the U.S. market. However, buggy software, recall issues, weakening demand and wider competition held this model back from its mass-market aspirations. ID.4 sales peaked at 37,789 units in the U.S. in 2023.
Volkswagen started deliveries of the ID.4 in early 2021, while assembly at its Chattanooga, Tennessee, assembly plant started in 2022 for the U.S. market. The automaker hasn’t confirmed where it will be sourcing the U.S.-market ID. Tiguan from.
In April the automaker announced that it would be ending production of the ID.4 at Chattanooga in an effort to focus on higher-volume models for growth in North America. The second-generation Atlas, set for an arrival at dealerships later this fall, is set to be built there.
As part of a massive restructuring plan laid out earlier this month, VW across all of its brands is looking to halve its global lineup, seeking greater economies of scale with a “clear focus” for its brands in North America around SUVs, pickups, and rugged vehicles. How this relates back to the VW brand specifically hasn’t yet been detailed.
