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Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources

reuters.com

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Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources

#111

Post by makeworld »

redeux wrote: post #106
runnr_az wrote: post #25

I keep seeing this being described as a “lie” when it’s really just an April Fools joke. I mean, I get that it’s not super funny, but man... when did we get so grumpy?

You’ll have to forgive people, many of whom are the victims of VWs emissions scandal, which by the way resulted in many premature deaths, for not finding this “prank” funny. Edited to update the death count.

I was curious, so I read Wikipedia.

"A peer-reviewed study published in Environmental Research Letters estimated that approximately 59 premature deaths will be caused by the excess pollution produced between 2008 and 2015 by vehicles equipped with the defeat device in the United States"

Not quite "thousands". Obviously still an egregious act from the company.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_emissions_scandal#D...

Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources

#112

Post by TechBro8615 »

adrianb wrote: post #49

If anything, this is an amazing insight onto how the media will report anything from a press release without a minimum of investigation. The name change was essentially breaking news everywhere. - they're changing the almost 100 years old name with... a pun on that name? Even a teenager would see it as a joke. - the announcement comes out 2 days before April 1st and is deleted from the website shortly after publishin…

> I'm worried if we trust a press that can be so easily and obviously misled.

Roughly ~55% of Americans don't trust the press. What's more worrying is the void that leaves, to be filled with marketing / spam / "fake news" style manipulation that tells people what they want to hear.

Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources

#113

Post by [deleted] »

justaguy88 wrote: post #50
adrianb wrote: post #49

If anything, this is an amazing insight onto how the media will report anything from a press release without a minimum of investigation. The name change was essentially breaking news everywhere. - they're changing the almost 100 years old name with... a pun on that name? Even a teenager would see it as a joke. - the announcement comes out 2 days before April 1st and is deleted from the website shortly after publishin…

I certainly didn't think it was a joke, it's seemed a perfectly reasonable thing to do * They got in trouble for diesel * They're pivoting to electric * The name sounds really similar, within the bounds of accent changes between cultures * The logo (VW) wouldn't have to change If it was a joke, then it failed because it was too realistic

[deleted]

Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources

#115

Post by phatfish »

chairmanwow1 wrote: post #47

I thought the new name was funny. Apparently I’m in the minority because of the incredible amounts of vitriol present ITT.

Yup, funny for an April fools joke, would have worked better on April 1st though.

What has happened to everyone?

Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources

#116

Post by mynameisvlad »

chrisseaton wrote: post #100
jessriedel wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Minimum of investigation? It's a story about a company's self-reported intention .

So investigate why it’s their intention. If you’re just going to repeat the press release I might as well read the wire myself. What are the journalists for?

I mean, that's exactly what they did:

> - the media packages it as an amazing "leak" and spins it into VW attempting to distance themselves from the diesel scandal?!

Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources

#117

Post by [deleted] »

gkoberger wrote: post #79
justaguy88 wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I certainly didn't think it was a joke, it's seemed a perfectly reasonable thing to do * They got in trouble for diesel * They're pivoting to electric * The name sounds really similar, within the bounds of accent changes between cultures * The logo (VW) wouldn't have to change If it was a joke, then it failed because it was too realistic

I don't see it as a joke, but rather a marketing gimmick. IHOP did it a year ago (IHOB to announce their new burgers), and it got them a ton of press. I bet Volkswagon saw that and wanted in.

[deleted]

Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources

#118

Post by selimthegrim »

pvorb wrote: post #99
HenryBemis wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Just change the name and change it back For real? A company with global presence, to LEGALLY change their name? And then run through the bureaucratic hell with countries, tax authorities, customs, contracts, insurance companies, changing logos/templates.. Do you have what is the actual cost to change a name for a company? The top hit on a DDG search: https://www.thebalancesmb.com/how-do-i-change-my-business-na... B…

Well, Daimler announced something similar just about two months ago: https://www.daimler.com/investors/reports-news/financial-new... It wants to separate its car business from truck business and plans to rename the car business to Mercedes-Benz - the brand name it's been using since virtually forever. It's probably also a PR stunt, I don't know.

Oddly enough, they are taking their name off the Superdome.

Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources

#119

Post by outside1234 »

adrianb wrote: post #49

If anything, this is an amazing insight onto how the media will report anything from a press release without a minimum of investigation. The name change was essentially breaking news everywhere. - they're changing the almost 100 years old name with... a pun on that name? Even a teenager would see it as a joke. - the announcement comes out 2 days before April 1st and is deleted from the website shortly after publishin…

They quite literally - and it is still this way - changed the branding on their Twitter account AND TWEETED ABOUT IT so I am not sure why we should be beating up the press over this.

ref: https://twitter.com/VW/status/1376868756782219266

Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources

#120

Post by redeux »

makeworld wrote: post #111
redeux wrote: post #106

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You’ll have to forgive people, many of whom are the victims of VWs emissions scandal, which by the way resulted in many premature deaths, for not finding this “prank” funny. Edited to update the death count.

I was curious, so I read Wikipedia. "A peer-reviewed study published in Environmental Research Letters estimated that approximately 59 premature deaths will be caused by the excess pollution produced between 2008 and 2015 by vehicles equipped with the defeat device in the United States" Not quite "thousands". Obviously still an egregious act from the company. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_emissions_scandal…

That’s fair and it’s not a subject I’ve had to talk about in a while. I should have looked at the stats again.
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