Volkswagen shares shot up 5% following news that a “leak” revealing a possible name change to “Voltswagen” in the US was, in fact, an April Fools joke accidentally released early.
Volkswagen has put considerable efforts towards redeeming itself from the 2015 Dieselgate emissions testing scandal, sinking billions in funding into the Electrify America network in the US and the Ionity network in Germany, as well as creating its new all-electric ID range.
The leak was so convincing that it had many many analysts and investors, and many news outlets, including The Driven, taken in until Volkswagen admitted the joke on Wednesday (Europe time).
But just as interesting was the investor reaction to the wind-up, which has illustratated the level of  interest in electrification of the auto industry, and the role that Volkswagen wants to play in it.
These sentiments were noted in an email to investors by Morgan Stanley:
“Auto investors are probably quite familiar with the story of how a VW marketing spoof pretending to change the company’s name to ‘Voltswagen’ was released too early and without much explanation, prompting investors to assume it was a legit corporate re-branding to emphasize VW’s commitment to electrification.
“What’s interesting to me is that, at least based on my discussions, investors really bought it. Hook, line and sinker.
“And the stock market clearly seemed to like it with VW shares up around 5% after the false announcement. It’s an interesting commentary on the state of the industry that such a communication, which VW admitted was meant to be a joke, was taken so seriously.”
It’s not the only April Fools doing the rounds on the EV news circuit, either. Although, it is one that we can’t help but wish were true.
It is an image of Tesla’s new Model A, posted by Chris Vanderstock on Twitter, and purports to show a new Tesla model with 400km range WLTP, a 45kWh battery and 400/800 volt architecture.
At Tesla’s Battery Day in September Elon Musk mused about a $US25,000 electric hatchback, and some images shared by Tesla’s China design centre previously seem to confirm this is something Tesla will make at some point.
Although it is unlikely that these are the specs we will see in a small Tesla hatch, we can dream, can’t we?
This is the new #Tesla Model A!
US$25,000 small run-about sedan with great specs:
-400km range WLTP
-45kWh battery
-RWD motor 125kW / 350Nm
-400/800 volt electrics means 10-80% in just 18 minutes, or 100km of range in just 4.5 minutes.Happy April fools day! pic.twitter.com/5dGuoNePl6
— Chris Vanderstock #stopthecleanairtax (@cvanderstock) March 31, 2021
Bridie Schmidt is associate editor for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She has been writing about electric vehicles since 2018, and has a keen interest in the role that zero-emissions transport has to play in sustainability. She has participated in podcasts such as Download This Show with Marc Fennell and Shirtloads of Science with Karl Kruszelnicki and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum. Bridie also owns a Tesla Model Y and has it available for hire on evee.com.au.