[8] Production of the Up started with the model year of 2012, in December 2011 at the Volkswagen Plant in Bratislava, Slovakia.

[9] It is part of the New Small Family (NSF) series of models, alongside the SEAT Mii and Škoda Citigo which are rebadged versions of the Up, with slightly different front and rear fascias.

Shown at the Frankfurt launch were several further Up concepts, including a 98 hp (73 kW) GT version, a natural gas-powered Eco-up!

The Up is a front-wheel drive with transverse engine mated to a five-speed manual gearbox and is 3.54 metres (139 in) long has a wheelbase of 2.42 m (95 in).

Released in January 2018, the Up GTI feature a turbocharged version of the 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine producing 115 PS (113 bhp; 85 kW).

is available to order in the United Kingdom since October 2011 for five models – marketed as Take Up, Move Up, High Up, Up Black and Up White.

[23] British television show Top Gear presenters mocked the unusual name by calling the model "Up-exclamation-mark".

At the Geneva Motor Show in 2016, the model sold in Europe received a facelift and the new TSI engine, that went on sale in the summer the same year.

[27] The Up was not sold in North America, CIS countries, Middle East, India,[28] China, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

Built in Brazil, the Latin American Up differs from its European counterpart in length (it is 65 mm (2.6 in) longer), thanks to revisions to the floorpan's rear section to accommodate a larger fuel tank (50 L instead of Europe's 35 L), a full-sized spare wheel and increased cargo space.

All versions have revised tailgates with a painted metal section (like the Seat Mii's and Škoda Citigo's) instead of the dark glass trim used in Europe.

The five-door Brazilian Up also uses a different rear door design with sectioned glass and wind-down windows.

The South American model retains the European version's safety levels with a five-star crash rating[31] and ample use of high-strength steel elements.

[32] In July 2015, Volkswagen introduced a new powertrain for the Up sold in Brazil, using a 1.0-litre, direct fuel injection three-cylinder turbocharged engine.

It is powered by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI petrol engine, which produces 115 PS (113 bhp; 85 kW).

The refresh included small optional equipment changes, but no alterations to the powertrain, chassis or brakes.

As of January 2023, new orders for the Up GTI were closed to allow time to complete orders before the GTI model ceased production.In July 2010 VW announced the production version of the E-up electric car, with sales scheduled to begin in 2013,[35] and was subsequently unveiled at the September 2013 International Motor Show Germany.

[42][43]Retail deliveries began in Germany in October 2013, followed shortly after by Denmark, Sweden, France, Norway, and the Netherlands, and the UK at the end of January 2014.

[51] (62 mph) All fluids, 50% fuel Both engines are also available with BlueMotion technologies (SEAT: Ecomotive, Škoda: Green Tech), which incorporates a start-stop system and regenerative brakes to reduce carbon emissions.

[57] In February 2019 Green NCAP assessed Volkswagen Up GTI with 1.0-litre TSI engine and 6-speed manual gearbox: The Škoda Citigo is a rebadged version of the Up, with slightly different front and rear fascias.

Plans for sales in Russia and most other CIS countries were cancelled due to its dimensions being deemed too small for the market.

The SEAT Mii, like the Citigo, is a rebadged version of the Up, with noticeable differences to the front and rear fascias.

[63] Twelve lithium-ion batteries give the Space Up Blue 45 kW (61 PS; 60 bhp) of power and a 65 miles (105 km) range.

[64] Power is sourced from 18 kilowatt-hours (kWh) lithium-ion batteries, which will give a range up to 130 km (81 miles).

[64] The solar cells can be increased in size to a total area of 1.7 square metre by folding down the sun visors.

[64] Interior equipment includes a touch-screen human machine interface (HMI), one notable feature allows the charge to be delayed within the HMI programming, utilising cheap-rate night-time electricity—and this can also be remotely programmed via an iPhone or similar device.

The Volkswagen Up Lite concept car has a hybrid powertrain with one 0.8 litres (48.8 cu in) two-cylinder Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine and one 10 kW (14 PS; 13 bhp) electric motor, using a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.

[69] It has a door-less design, convertible canvas roof, waterproof interior, and a reinforced frame with ride height reduced by 0.8 inches (2.0 cm).

Azzurra Sailing Team concept debuted at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany.

The Azzurra was designed to look and feel like a luxury yacht, with a fully waterproof interior, blue and white leather seats, and chrome and wood trim.