Car Names Simplified

Name Changes Ahead

What’s in a name, right? When it comes to cars, especially electric ones, a name can mean a whole lot. Automakers these days are looking to rebrand their electric rides and get rid of those puzzling letter-number combos that nobody really gets. Big names like Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota are leading the charge here. Gone are the days of IDs, EQs, and bZs, as these companies aim to streamline things and give their electric cars proper names that people connect with easily.

Volkswagen

So, starting with Volkswagen. For years, they’ve been stamping their electric cars with “ID” badges. You might remember models like the ID.4 crossover, the smaller ID.3, the larger ID.5, and the sporty ID.7 sedan. But now, Volkswagen is ditching the ID. The iconic bus-inspired ID.Buzz already broke the mold, and it seems like more models will soon follow with familiar names. The ID.Every1 and ID.2all concept vehicles are rumored to hit the market under the names Up and Polo, as Volkswagen’s marketing honcho Martin Sander mentioned.

Toyota

Moving on to Toyota. Their first modern electric vehicle, the bZ4X, had one of those eye-twisting names that didn’t help sales. Now, with a major 2026 update incoming, they’re simplifying things. The new name is simply bZ. Something with a bit more flair includes an off-road version dubbed bZ Woodlands. The buzz is that once rebranding kicks in, they’re likely to use names from existing Toyota models for upcoming EVs, making it easier for everyone to recognize these rides.

Mercedes

Now, onto Mercedes-Benz. They’ve been using EQ for their electric models like the flagship EQS. However, future models will have names more in line with traditional Mercedes nomenclature. For example, the electric version of the iconic G-Wagen, originally plugged to be the EQG, will launch as the G580 with EQ Technology. Meanwhile, hybrids will carry an “e” badge, while electrified AMG models will have their own exclusive names.

Other Brands

This shift isn’t just limited to the big German and Japanese automakers. Across the board, companies are simplifying things too. For example, Chevrolet keeps familiar names while tagging EV at the end, like the Equinox EV. Even GMC’s electric offerings stick with recognizable names like Hummer and Sierra. Meanwhile, Cadillac, the GM’s luxury arm, is moving away from cryptic names like CTS and going with catchier names like Lyriq, Optiq, and even the Escalade IQ.

It’s an interesting time in the auto world, and even brands like Hyundai and Kia are pondering their next moves. Hyundai’s using “Ioniq” followed by a number, and E division sibling Kia goes with EVs numbered accordingly. But as they add more electric vehicles to their lineups, new naming ideas might be right around the corner.