The ID.4 is Volkswagen's first all-electric SUV.

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Lu Hongjie / Costfoto / Sipa USA / SIPA

Volkswagen put an end to the confusion on Tuesday evening: contrary to what had been officially announced earlier in the day, the group will not rename itself "Voltswagen" in the United States.

It was an April 1 joke, a spokesperson confirmed to AFP.

The venerable German manufacturer had surprised by claiming to want to change the name of its subsidiary in the country in "Voltswagen of America" ​​to symbolize its turn towards electric.

Everything had been done to give this announcement an official character, between press release on the American site and change of the Twitter account.

It was widely covered in the media, including by AFP.

We know, 66 is an unusual age to change your name, but we've always been young at heart.

Introducing Voltswagen.

Similar to Volkswagen, but with a renewed focus on electric driving.

Starting with our all-new, all-electric SUV the ID.4 - available today.

#Voltswagen # ID4 pic.twitter.com/pKQKlZDCQ7

- Voltswagen (@VW) March 30, 2021

A spokesperson in the United States, interviewed by the agency, even confirmed the contents of the press release on Tuesday.

But this information, unveiled two days before a day known for its traditional hoaxes and when the group is launching a new electric vehicle in the United States, also raised doubts.

Another spokesperson for the group confirmed to AFP on Tuesday evening that it was indeed a hoax.

The financial magazine

Barrons

even published a long analysis explaining that this name change was a "big deal".

The action on the rise

This joke - denounced by some only four years after Dieselgate - has in any case seduced the markets: Volkswagen shares gained 4% in Frankfurt and jumped 8% on Wall Street.

It is difficult to know if April Fool's Day really had an impact: the VW title has soared by 60% since January 1, thanks in particular to the launch of the ID.4 electric SUV and the optimism of analysts.

According to the

Wall Street Journal

, the name change would also be a joke in the service of a promotional campaign for the launch of the vehicle in the United States.

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