I wonder if it was really just a joke or if they backpedaled because the public thought the name was ridiculous. In both cases, what a weird episode.
I like Voltswagen, it's cool, but zero loss if they don't rename too.
Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
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Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#92If 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…
http://www.paulgraham.com/submarine.html
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Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#93Earlier 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.
Probably kind of both at the same time, I think.
Clever puns and wordplay gimmicks seem to always stir up a bit more press and word-of-mouth than just regular business decisions.
Making it interesting without being too complicated to hold the interest of the public is a fine line that a lot of marketing firms are good at walking, although unfortunately some are just terrible.
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#94I don't like the name but it begs the question... Is April fools the 'marketing dept' version of 'Staging' in a CI/CD pipeline? (or maybe blue/green deployment is better analogy !) Like, if the tests fail (the public is enraged at your tweak ex. 'volt'swagen) , rollback the change under the guise of 'April fools'
It invites the question. http://begthequestion.info/
Prescriptivism is bullshit.
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#95Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yes, the media reporting makes those outlets who did look foolish; that being said, this could have been a trial balloon or one hell of news play by VW to get a lot of people to realize they have a fleet of EVs.
The latter being actually true, but whithout the cost of actually changing their name, right?
Or just a tiny fraction of the cost..
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#96Now I'm not sure what to call their nonexistent electric cars!
Call them market leaders in Europe. Volkswagen owns 12 automotive brands and they sold the most BEVs in Europe in 2020: https://ev-sales.blogspot.com/2021/01/europe-december-2020.h... So far they're still leading in Europe in 2021: https://ev-sales.blogspot.com/2021/03/europe-february-2021.h... Eventually they'll be the biggest BEV maker worldwide. It's not surprising. Volkswagen and Toyota are the world's biggest ca…
It's interesting that despite its international leadership position, Volkswagen has a rather small share of the U.S. car market. VW captured 2.21% of U.S. car sales in 2020[1].
By contrast, Toyota was 12.53%, GM 17.30%, Ford 13.87%, etc.
1. https://www.goodcarbadcar.net/volkswagen-us-sales-figures/
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#97Earlier quoted context omitted.
Also, why is this such a big deal? Just change the name and change it back, the media can have at it, not their problem. Ultimately it's the car that matters.
> 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…
You don't have to legally change your name, you can just change it on your website as long as nobody else is using it.
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#98How do you pronounce the W in Volkswagen?
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#99Earlier quoted context omitted.
Also, why is this such a big deal? Just change the name and change it back, the media can have at it, not their problem. Ultimately it's the car that matters.
> 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.
Re: Volkswagen will not change name of U.S. operations: sources
#100If 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…
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?