The Volkswagon e-beetle
(Picture: VW)Volkswagen has confirmed that reports of its rebranding to “Voltswagen of America” was a joke that was made “in the spirit of April Fool’s Day”.
The firm had released statements on Monday announcing it would change its brand name to “Voltswagen” to reflect its move to focus on battery-electric vehicles.
The name change was reported by many media outlets such as the Associated Press and NPR.
It was also shared in a social media post from one of the car maker’s Twitter accounts.
“We know, 66 is an unusual age to change your name, but we’ve always been young at heart,” said ‘Voltswagen’ on Twitter.
“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
Company spokesman Mark Gillies confirmed on Tuesday that the statement was a joke ahead of April Fool’s Day on Thursday.
A spokesman told NPR: "Volkswagen of America will not be changing its name to Voltswagen.
"The renaming was designed to be an announcement in the spirit of April Fool's Day, highlighting the launch of the all-electric ID.4 SUV and signalling our commitment to bringing electric mobility to all."
It comes after the German car company was forced to apologise last year for a car advertisement that was slammed as racist and insulting.
The car giant published a video on Instagram that showed a new Volkswagen Golf parked on a street while a woman’s large, white hand pushes a black man away.
A Volkswagen spokesman said at the time that agencies usually produced its advertising campaigns and it had launched an investigation.
The firm was also caught in damaging rows over its Dieselgate emissions scandal in 2015, and in 2019 its chief executive apologised after evoking a Nazi concentration camp slogan to describe the company’s profit strategy.
