I hope this doesn't cause their customers to re-volt.
Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
131–140 of 148 posts
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#132This "marketing stunt" raised their stock price by 8.95% today because people ran to buy stock since it signaled a changed in strategy. It is not "market manipulation", but I hope somebody gets slapped in the wrist for this.
I'd be shocked if there wasn't a shareholder class action.
I'd almost think they had to price it in, but VW really seems to misunderstand regulatory risk. If a car was going to have shrimp tails in it, it'd be VW.
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#133So it was just a stunt. We're in the decadent phase of the April Fool's arms race.
Previous thread: Voltswagen of America - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26634857 - March 2021 (561 comments)
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#134If 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…
There was verification - and intentional misleading on VWs part - before talking about it. It was not quite the "read press release and instantly write articles" timeline you've dreamt. https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/30/volkswagens-name-change-of-u... > An unfinished version of the initial press release went out briefly on VW’s U.S. media newsroom website Monday morning before it was taken down. Media outlets, includin…
Or the "unnamed source" checked their website, assumed it was what it was and confirmed it.
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#135Earlier quoted context omitted.
There’s nothing unprecedented about a company temporarily changing branding and tweeting about it during April Fools day.
2 days before April Fools day is not April Fools day.
Sure, but if a global company pulls a stunt like that (pun and all) 2 days before April Fools day, it’s probably related to April Fools day.
Given all of the signals, and the proximity to April 1st, a little bit of sobriety and common sense would have gone a long way. As it is, the news outlets added zero (0) new information on top of what was in the press releases.
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#136Earlier quoted context omitted.
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
There’s nothing unprecedented about a company temporarily changing branding and tweeting about it during April Fools day.
Except it is not April Fools day
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#137Earlier quoted context omitted.
2 days before April Fools day is not April Fools day.
Sure, but if a global company pulls a stunt like that (pun and all) 2 days before April Fools day, it’s probably related to April Fools day. Given all of the signals, and the proximity to April 1st, a little bit of sobriety and common sense would have gone a long way. As it is, the news outlets added zero (0) new information on top of what was in the press releases.
Like how Halloween is now the entirety of October, should we expect the duration of "April Fools" to inflate, leading to an entire Mischievous March?
Regardless of proximity to April Fools; VAG is a publicly traded company. I think that a lot of people would prefer they didn't misuse their official press releases for banal pranks.
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#138So it was just a stunt. We're in the decadent phase of the April Fool's arms race. Previous thread: Voltswagen of America - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=26634857 - March 2021 (561 comments)
Moniker does hold voltswagen.com, so maybe not entirely far fetched from a marketing standpoint
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#139Earlier quoted context omitted.
Sure, but if a global company pulls a stunt like that (pun and all) 2 days before April Fools day, it’s probably related to April Fools day. Given all of the signals, and the proximity to April 1st, a little bit of sobriety and common sense would have gone a long way. As it is, the news outlets added zero (0) new information on top of what was in the press releases.
Like how Halloween is now the entirety of October, should we expect the duration of "April Fools" to inflate, leading to an entire Mischievous March? Regardless of proximity to April Fools; VAG is a publicly traded company. I think that a lot of people would prefer they didn't misuse their official press releases for banal pranks.
Who said anything about a holiday being an entire month? We’re talking about 2 days; and really 1 day for the time zone that’s furthest along.
If someone tweeted about pumpkins and skeletons on October 29th/30th, it’s probably related to Halloween.
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#140Earlier quoted context omitted.
There’s nothing unprecedented about a company temporarily changing branding and tweeting about it during April Fools day.
Which ones of VW’s size, on March 30?
> On March 30
You mean publishing what sounds like a joke 2 days before April 1st? Occam’s razor would suggest that it’s just a premature April Fools joke.