Volkswagen Is Useless, Lengthy Are living Voltswagen [BUT NOT REALLY]

It can be formal (but not actually): Volkswagen of The united states is going to be Voltswagen of The us. A press launch dated April 29 ‘leaked’ yesterday to VW of America’s media website, claiming the German company’s U.S. arm was switching its official title by swapping the ‘k’ in Volkswagen to a ‘t.’ The launch was reposted these days, providing formal confirmation of types. It also states all cars would still put on VW badges, with gas-powered types retaining a dark blue track record and electrical versions adopting a gentle blue background. The brand’s EVs would also activity script “Voltswagen” badges.

But it truly is all a joke/marketing stunt made to convey focus to the company’s EV drive. A horrible notion if it had been true, the “information” twisted the net into knots—including, it need to be admitted, us—trying to figure out no matter if or not it was an early April Fool’s stunt. As the declaring goes, a lie can journey midway close to the world whilst the reality is even now putting on its sneakers. The story was to start with claimed by United states of america Nowadays, and it sounded like just that type of world-trotting fib when it crossed our desks. Though VW of American reps declined to remark to MotorTrend, the Wall Road Journal has verified the spoof with German executives, who instructed the outlet, “It is a premature April Fool’s joke. It can be component of a advertising and marketing campaign for the ID4. There will be no title alter.” VW of The united states has itself now verified that it will not without a doubt be switching its name.

The timing of all this, just in advance of a ordinarily mischief-heavy holiday getaway, provided a great deal of fuel for our skepticism, as did the truth that, until finally the WSJ report, there was no parallel release or commentary from Volkswagen’s German headquarters. Even so, VW has created some head-scratching decisions in recent a long time, running the gamut from rebranding its very well-identified Golfing as the Rabbit for a technology to cheating on global diesel-emissions restrictions, so we were not ready to place anything at all previous the corporation. The PR stunt comes hot on the heels of the the latest debut of the aforementioned Volkswagen ID4 crossover as the 1st U.S. product in a lengthy line of future EVs planned for the VW family.

This write-up was initially published on March 29, 2021. Volkswagen Voltswagen of America’s full launch is reproduced underneath.

Herndon, VA, March 30, 2021 – V.2 —Right now, Volkswagen Group of The usa, is unveiling the official modify of its U.S. manufacturer identify from Volkswagen of America to Voltswagen of The us.

Much more than a title adjust, “Voltswagen” is a public declaration of the company’s potential-forward expenditure in e-mobility. By definition, Volts are the derived models for electric powered potential among two details. The new title and branding symbolize the really-charged forward momentum Voltswagen has set in motion, pursuing a goal of relocating all people today level-to-stage with EVs.

“We may well be switching out our K for a T, but what we aren’t altering is this brand’s determination to generating very best-in-class vehicles for motorists and people almost everywhere,” claimed Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Voltswagen of The united states. “The strategy of a ‘people’s car’ is the quite cloth of our being. We have stated, from the commencing of our shift to an electric potential, that we will construct EVs for the thousands and thousands, not just millionaires. This identify alter signifies a nod to our past as the peoples’ car and our firm perception that our potential is in remaining the peoples’ electric powered motor vehicle. “

This thirty day period, the enterprise welcomes the arrival of ID.4, its to start with lengthy-variety all-electric, zero immediate emission SUV, in dealerships across The usa. As nicely as remaining designed to compete with mainstream compact SUVs, the ID.4 is the initial solution to be offered nationwide that confirms the firm’s commitment to sustainable mobility.

That is been the mission given that the more substantial Volkswagen Group turned the to start with big automaker to guidance the objectives of the Paris Climate Arrangement, with an extra goal of a 30 percent reduction in the firm’s carbon footprint by 2025, and net-carbon neutrality by 2050. A resulting determination to promote a person million EVs globally by 2025 will see extra than 70 electric models released across the VW team brands by 2029.

With the introduction of the “Generate Larger” brand name platform in 2019, Volkswagen of The us, as it was then, communicated a extended-expression eyesight of striving for a increased function, demanding us all to move outside of self-interest and to think about remaining portion of one thing even larger. The firm more signaled its intentions by getting just one of 5 brands that signed up in 2019 to California’s proposed gasoline economy regulations, which aim to impose stricter CO2 criteria in an effort and hard work to assist overcome climate change.

Voltswagen implies considering massive, acting boldly and top progress.

In 1955 Volkswagen of The usa was launched, and from the beginning the firm dared to be distinct from other automakers. VW initial received the love of the American general public with the Kind 1 Beetle, which at some point overtook the Ford Model T as the world’s very best-offering motor vehicle, with far more than 23 million sold. By developing a storied legacy of breaking from convention and emphasizing a legitimate driver-automobile relationship, Volkswagen of The us in its time has turn into synonymous with humility, wit and humor, whilst the true namesake interprets to “the people’s automobile. “

“As our freshly released ID.4 marketing campaign demonstrates, the humanity at the main of this manufacturer remains its enduring legacy,” explained Kimberley Gardiner, senior vice president, Voltswagen of The us brand advertising. “The tone of Voltswagen will be a steady thread
concerning the branded communications for our growing electric fleet to our fuel automobiles. In excess of the study course of the upcoming number of months, you will see the brand changeover at all shopper touch factors. This is an fascinating second for us, and we have been doing work by each avenue to make the changeover distinct, dependable, seamless and pleasurable for all. “

The firm will maintain things of Volkswagen’s heritage by retaining its iconic VW Darkish Blue coloration for fuel-run vehicles and Mild Blue to differentiate the new, EV-centric branding. Starting up right now, new branding will roll out across all of the firm’s advertising, web-site and social media channels. Moving forward, “Voltswagen” will be placed as an exterior badge on all EV designs with fuel automobiles sporting the VW emblem only. Exterior and interior signage will quickly roll out to all Voltswagen properties and dealerships across the US.