Voltswagen: A new name for a new era of e-Mobility, well for April fools day at least

Volkswagen Group of America released a press release in the spirit of Aprils fool day (all be it a day early), but the intended message was clear, the brand is committed to 100% e-mobility for the car brand. The press release is below.

More than a name change, "Voltswagen" is a public declaration of the company's future-forward investment in e-mobility. By definition, Volts are the derived units for electric potential between two points. The new name and branding symbolize the highly-charged forward momentum Voltswagen has put in motion, pursuing a goal of moving all people point-to-point with EVs.

"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," said Scott Keogh, president and CEO of Voltswagen of America. "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."

This month, the company welcomes the arrival of ID.4, its first long-range all-electric, zero direct emission SUV, in dealerships across America. As well as being designed to compete with mainstream compact SUVs, the ID.4 is the first product to be sold nationwide that confirms the company's commitment to sustainable mobility.

That's been the mission since the larger Volkswagen Group became the first major automaker to support the Paris Climate Agreement's goals, with an added target of a 30 percent reduction in the company's carbon footprint by 2025 and net-carbon neutrality by 2050. A resulting commitment to sell one million EVs worldwide by 2025 will see more than 70 electric models launched across the VW group brands by 2029.

With the introduction of the "Drive Bigger" brand platform in 2019, Volkswagen of America, as it was then, communicated a long-term vision of striving for a higher purpose, challenging us all to move beyond self-interest and to consider being part of something bigger. The company further signalled its intentions by becoming one of five brands that signed up in 2019 to California's proposed fuel economy regulations, which aim to impose stricter CO2 standards to help combat climate change.

Voltswagen means thinking big, acting boldly and leading progress.

In 1955 Volkswagen of America was founded, and from the beginning, the company dared to be different from other automakers. VW first won the love of the American public with the Type 1 Beetle, which eventually overtook the Ford Model T as the world's best-selling car, with more than 23 million sold. By establishing a storied legacy of breaking from convention and emphasizing a true driver-vehicle connection, Volkswagen of America in its time has become synonymous with humility, wit and humour, while the actual namesake translates to "the people's car."

"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 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 company will preserve elements of Volkswagen's heritage by retaining its iconic VW Dark Blue colour for gas-powered vehicles and Light Blue to differentiate the new, EV-centric branding. Starting today, new branding will roll out across all of its advertising, website and social media channels. Moving forward, "Voltswagen" will be placed as an exterior badge on all EV models with gas vehicles sporting the VW emblem only. Exterior and interior signage will soon roll out to all Voltswagen properties and dealerships across the US.