Voltswagen! Yes, that will be the name of German auto giant Volkswagen’s operations in the United States of America. The official brand name has changed from Volkswagen of America to ‘Voltswagen of America’ and clearly emphasizes the brand’s electric aspirations in the market. The new name, the automaker, symbolises the brand’s momentum towards moving people from point-to-point with electric vehicles. But we now know that this was an April Fool’s joke by the company.
To give it that reality flavour, the company even quoted Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Voltswagen of America, saying, “We might be changing out our K for a T, but what we aren’t changing is this brand’s commitment to making best-in-class vehicles for drivers and people everywhere. The idea of a ‘people’s car’ is the very fabric of our being. From the beginning of our shift to an electric future, we have said that we will build EVs for the millions, not just millionaires. This name change signifies a nod to our past as the peoples’ car and our firm belief that our future is in being the peoples’ electric car.”
Do note that the Voltswagen name was to be specific to the US market, while the company will continue to use its original name in other markets globally. The Voltswagen name, though, isn’t exactly all-new. The brand had used it in one of their ads in 2013 while promoting the Volkswagen e-Up! in Europe.
“As our newly launched ID.4 campaign demonstrates, the humanity at the core of this brand remains its enduring legacy,” said Kimberley Gardiner, senior vice president, Voltswagen of America brand marketing. “The tone of Voltswagen will be a consistent thread between the branded communications for our growing electric fleet to our gas vehicles. Over the course of the next few months, you will see the brand transition at all consumer touchpoints. This is an exciting moment for us, and we have been working through every avenue to make the transition clear, consistent, seamless, and fun for all.”
The new name strategy also comes when the company has introduced the ID.4 SUV in the US, its first all-electric offering. The automaker has also said that its electric cars will sport the Voltswagen exterior badge and get a light blue version of the brand logo to differentiate the new EV-centric branding. Meanwhile, the gasoline-powered cars will retain the iconic dark blue VW logo, albeit without any exterior badging of the new name