Volkswagen 'e-Beetle' name trademarked

Volkswagen has reportedly trademarked the name ‘e-Beetle’ – hinting the German car-maker could reinstate the iconic Bug as an EV.

This week, a member of forum VWIDTalk revealed Volkswagen had filed an application for the ‘e-Beetle’ trademark with the European Union Intellectual Property Office.

The car-maker also reportedly submitted other applications at the same time, including ‘e-Golf Classic’, ‘e-Karmann’ and ‘e-Kübel;. Two weeks prior, the ‘e-Samba’ also got a trademark filing.

The revelation comes barely a year after Volkswagen’s global chief executive, Herbert Diess, confirmed there were no plans to revive the Beetle when production ended at the end of 2019.

At the time of Diess’ mandate, there were rumours already swirling about an electrified Beetle.

At the time, Volkswagen design boss Klaus Bischoff told media that the car-maker’s MEB platform would be a perfect match for a reincarnated Beetle.

“If you look at MEB, the shortest wheelbase [possible] is the I.D. [hatchback]. If you took that and did the Beetle on it, you have plenty of room so there’s no compromise in functionality any more.

“So it could be a very attractive car,” the German car-maker’s chief designer declared in interviews.

Confirming design proposals had already been made for an MEB-underpinned Beetle before Diess buried the idea, Bischoff estimated it would be two or three years before the Beetle would be back.

In any case, should Volkswagen proceed further with its ‘e-Beetle’ trademark, there would be scope to design the new-look Bug on the same architecture as the forthcoming ID.3, meaning the new Beetle EV would be rear-wheel drive like the original.

Volkswagen Australia had plans for the ID.4 electric SUV to spearhead its local EV assault – which would also include a modern-day Kombi based on the I.D. Buzz people-mover concept -- by late 2022 or 2023, but as we recently reported those plans are now in doubt.