Calling it a “public declaration” of its priority on electric vehicles, Herndon-based Volkswagen Group of America Inc. unveiled a new company name, Voltswagen of America, accompanied by new branding, in a news release Tuesday. But the U.S. sales arm of the German automaker confirmed to news outlets Tuesday evening that it had just been engaging in a shocking early April Fools’ gag to generate free publicity for its new electric SUV.
“The renaming was designed to be an announcement in the spirit of April Fools’ Day, highlighting the launch of the all-electric ID.4 SUV,” Mike Tolbert, the company’s spokesman, said in a emailed statement.
In the fake release put out earlier on Tuesday, Volkswagen Group of America had said that its increased focus on electric cars was driving the change. The company wants to “build [electric vehicles] for the millions, not just millionaires,” President and CEO Scott Keogh said in the announcement.
