Days before April Fools' Day, Volkswagen of America leaked a bombshell press release stating the company plans to change its name in the U.S. to "Voltswagen."
It's no practical joke, despite reactions on social media when the news was leaked on March 29. Less than 24 hours after CNBC reported an accidental posting of the press release, Volkswagen confirmed the "...public declaration of the company's future-forward investment in e-mobility."
“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,” Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Voltswagen of America, said in the statement.
The press release was supposed to launch April 29, CNBC said. The name "Voltswagen" would appear on the exterior of electric vehicles, while gas vehicles would still retain the VW logo that debuted on the ID 3 electric car in 2019. The VW logo will retain dark blue accents for gas cars, while EV's will get a light blue color.
VW logo
The historic name of the world's second largest automaker founded in 1937 will remain in other markets, especially in its home country of Germany, where it translates to "the peoples' car."
“The idea of a ‘people’s car’ is the very fabric of our being," Keogh added. "We have said, from the beginning of our shift to an electric future, 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.”
Earlier this month, Volkswagen joined a chorus of other automakers pledging electric vehicle fleets in the future, including GM. Though Volkswagen didn't set a target for when it would phase out combustion engines, it plans 70 BEVs by 2028 and has committed to manufacturing its own batteries. Its first mass-produced electric vehicle, the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, is on sale now, with several planned ID models to follow, including an electric microbus.
The ID.4 is still called a Volkswagen.
Not too long ago, when Chevrolet launched the Bolt EV hatch for 2017, it ran into spoken word confusion with the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid sedan. Chevy emphasized EV in every reference of the Bolt, but hearing it spoken still added confusion between the dissimilar vehicles. The Volt has since been discontinued, while the 2022 Bolt EV was redesigned this year and supplemented by a larger 2022 Bolt EUV model.
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