Volkswagen’s ‘Voltswagen’ Rebrand Is Apparently Just an April Fools’ Joke
Volkswagen’s big “Voltswagen” rebrand is apparently one big April Fools’ Day prank.
Let’s back up a second. On Monday, CNBC reported that the automaker’s website accidentally published an announcement that they’re changing the name of their U.S. operations to “Voltswagen of America.”
CNBC’s reporting said that “a person familiar with the company’s plans confirmed the authenticity of the release to CNBC” and that the press release said it was done as a “public declaration of the company’s future-forward investment in e-mobility.”
The company then tweeted out a message early Tuesday that said, “We know, 66 is an unusual age to change your name, but we’ve always been young at heart. Introducing Voltswagen. Similar to Volkswagen, but with a renewed focus on electric driving. Starting with our all-new, all-electric SUV the ID.4 – available today.”
We know, 66 is an unusual age to change your name, but we’ve always been young at heart. Introducing Voltswagen. Similar to Volkswagen, but with a renewed focus on electric driving. Starting with our all-new, all-electric SUV the ID.4 – available today. #Voltswagen #ID4 pic.twitter.com/pKQKlZDCQ7
— Voltswagen (@VW) March 30, 2021
There were some news outlets reporting the company had confirmed this was really happening, but according to the Wall Street Journal, the whole thing was actually… an April Fools’ Day prank.
Per the Journal:
The name change, which immediately lit up social media and online news sites, was originally intended as an early April Fools’ Day stunt to get people talking about VW’s ambitious electric car strategy as the company rolls out its first all-electric sport-utility vehicle, the ID.4, in U.S. dealerships, the spokesman said.
The problem for VW is that everyone took them seriously, creating confusion about the company’s intentions and moving the shares, putting VW’s communications team on the defensive.
“We didn’t mean to mislead anyone,” a Volkswagen spokesman in Wolfsburg told The Wall Street Journal. “The whole thing is just a marketing action to get people talking about the ID.4.”
So happy early April Fools’ Day, folks. Be wary of what you see out there.
