Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

If this isn't a joke, it actually does make sense. Easier to pronounce in english. Means electric car... the growth category. Why not?

"Volkswagen" is big enough that the name just means the company/product. But, it isn't really good brand name for an anglo market. You either can't pronounce it, or the literal connotation makes you a little uncomfortable.



I guess Tesla and Faraday were already taken. This is ridiculous. I hope this is a case of an April fools joke delivered according to German punctuality.


Personally I'm a fan of fluidity. I have no problem with voltswagen as an aka. Why not. Brand names change, evolve.

If it is a deadpan joke, I kind of like it too. Overall, I can see no reason for outrage of any kind.


It's funny to me how some people find this "ridiculous".


I guess that's because they didn't change the name in Germany as well. "Volkswagen" is really easy to pronounce in German, but "Voltswagen" is just weird.


What is the literal connotation?



> or the literal connotation makes you a little uncomfortable.

How so? "The people's car" seems rather innocuous to me. My only guess would be that it could make some American anti-socialists uncomfortable?


I mean, the "launched by Hitler" part doesn't seem to bother people, so why would the name?




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: