Volkswagen Name Change Prank Controversy: Automaker Voices Regret After Outcry

German car giant Volkswagen voiced regret on March 31 over a publicity stunt that duped major media outlets. It was criticised by AFP as a "breach of trust". The outrage came after Volkswagen just a day earlier said in a press release it would be changing the name of its US subsidiary to "Voltswagen" to highlight its shift towards electric cars. The announcement, two days shy of April Fool's Day, raised eyebrows but company spokespeople insisted it was genuine. It resulted in widespread media coverage before VW eventually revealed that the rebrand was a joke dreamt up by its marketing team. Reporters reacted angrily to the stunt. Phil Chetwynd, global news director of AFP, wrote to Volkswagen Group to protest against the deception. "This was not a joke. It was deception. In case you hadn't noticed, we have a misinformation problem in this country. Now you're part of it. Why should anyone trust you again?" USA Today business reporter Nathan Bomey tweeted.