Volkswagen says reported name change to ‘Voltswagen’ was a joke

Volkswagen has confirmed that the reports of its rebranding to “Voltswagen of America” ​​were a joke that was made “in the spirit of April Fools”.

The firm had issued statements on Monday announcing that it would change its brand name to “Voltswagen” to reflect its decision to focus on battery-electric vehicles.

The name change was reported by numerous media outlets such as the UK Time News and NPR.

It was also shared in a social media post on one of the automaker’s Twitter accounts.

“We know 66 is an unusual age for a name change, but we’ve always been young at heart,” “Voltswagen” said on Twitter.

“Introducing Voltswagen. Similar to Volkswagen, but with a renewed emphasis on electric driving. Starting with our all-new all-electric SUV, the ID.4, available today. “

Company spokesman Mark Gillies confirmed on Tuesday that the statement was a joke before April Fool’s Day on Thursday.

A spokesperson told NPR: “Volkswagen of America will not change its name to Voltswagen.

“The name change was designed to be an April Fools-style announcement, highlighting the launch of the ID.4 all-electric SUV and signaling our commitment to bringing electric mobility to everyone.”

The auto giant posted a video on Instagram showing a new Volkswagen Golf parked on a street as a woman’s large white hand pushes a black man away.

A spokesperson for Volkswagen said at the time that the agencies usually produced its advertising campaigns and that it had launched an investigation.

The company was also caught up in damaging bickering over its Dieselgate emissions scandal in 2015, and in 2019 its chief executive apologized after relying on a Nazi concentration camp slogan to describe the profit strategy of the company.