Volkswagen to phase out “Das Auto” slogan – report

Volkswagen Pressekonferenz am 03032015 Automobilsalon Genf

Volkswagen will be phasing out its “Das Auto” advertising slogan as part of a rebranding exercise to shift its image into a more positive light. According to Reuters, change is in order to realign the company’s appearance with its “new-found humility” in the wake of its dieselgate scandal.

Introduced in 2007 under former CEO Martin Winterkorn, “Das Auto” simply translates to “The Car.” Reuters reports that the slogan will no longer appear on the brand’s future advertising campaigns, with a new slogan set to replace it. That slogan will plainly be, “Volkswagen.”

A company spokesperson explained that, “wherever our logo appears in future, it will be backed by the new brand slogan. The slogan will be rolled out in stages across the world.”

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The decision was said to have been reached at a closed-door meeting of some 2,000 group managers that was held last week. The exercise is said to be Volkswagen’s latest attempt at recovering a positive image for itself following a decline in sales in several markets.

A source who attended the special meeting claimed that Herbert Diess, Volkswagen’s brand chief, said that the Das Auto slogan suggested that Volkswagen alone was capable of defining what the modern vehicle is. The arrogant position is clearly not something Volkswagen wants to be associated with these days.

The source revealed to Reuters that Volkswagen needed to show humility and that the current slogan was “pretentious,” and “failed to convey Volkswagen’s technological ambitions.”

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Chris Aaron

With an equal passion for fast cars and everyday workhorses, Chris Aaron maintains a passion for European makes, Formula 1, playing the electric guitar and spending endless hours on the PlayStation - first-person shooters and the Gran Turismo franchise are his favourites. He also finds it strange to have written this in the third person.

 

Comments

  • The car. That cheats millions of people

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 30 Thumb down 5
    • Gravity on Dec 23, 2015 at 12:17 pm

      A better slogan will be “Das Rotten Auto”

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 3
      • DiehardAuto on Dec 23, 2015 at 5:02 pm

        May I suggest change it to ‘Dust Auto’.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 1
        • How about “Dust bin”?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
          • Same L0rrrr on Dec 23, 2015 at 10:31 pm

            Even my son proton saga has better RV than this lousy sausage. Work hard so you can own 4 Lexus just like me. I am buying another 3 Lexus in year to come.

            Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 9
  • That's Autar on Dec 23, 2015 at 9:38 am

    Always consider the Chinese pronunciation first. They have the most dialects in the world.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 14
  • tokmoh. on Dec 23, 2015 at 9:40 am

    Das penipu scammer.

    Das check engine light.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 17 Thumb down 4
  • Ooh … that is so sweet and humble.

    Our local brand uses “Das ist Perfeckt” to show their prowess.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
  • Regalbot on Dec 23, 2015 at 10:01 am

    Pity. They do make good cars but they dont handle issues very well. All car makers have problems but some handle things better than others.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 5
    • Vwistheworst on Dec 23, 2015 at 1:07 pm

      Clearly you are not an owner

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 7
      • Regalbot on Dec 23, 2015 at 10:48 pm

        Clearly you’ve not owned many models throughout the last 3 decades to judge their real legacy?

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
    • Peter on Dec 24, 2015 at 1:38 am

      VW long term reliability is poor according to tradeinqualityindex.com. See also truedelta.com. VW/Audi illegal diesel emissions have killed and injured thousands worldwide. VW is a big, rich company with $91B cash on hand. It has committed a major environmental crime and deserves to have the book thrown at it.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Das charge me here and there, even for valid warranty claim. So desperate!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 21 Thumb down 1
  • Henry on Dec 23, 2015 at 11:47 am

    There are so many car brands to choose from.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2
  • Lololol on Dec 23, 2015 at 11:48 am

    new one is Das Dustbin!

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 3
  • dsg fails on Dec 23, 2015 at 11:48 am

    Visit Workshop should be vw slogan

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 11 Thumb down 2
  • Das problematic auto.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 8 Thumb down 2
  • Mc Kangkung on Dec 23, 2015 at 12:27 pm

    Das DSG problem, Das VW customer service sucks
    Das VW lied to the world

    Das tak malu??

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 3
  • Goodness on Dec 23, 2015 at 12:45 pm

    Rebranding your slogan from Das Auto to whatever slogan you like, problems still remain unchanged! Maybe you can named it as “VW your trusted Towing Auto”

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 2
  • sky.tata on Dec 23, 2015 at 4:01 pm

    In India “Das Auto” translates to Ten Autorickshaws.
    So true, it creates the pollution levels of TEN Autorickshaws!
    They were telling us the truth along.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
  • intermilan on Dec 23, 2015 at 10:25 pm

    Hahaha.. after years of arrogance, now they wanted to be humble? Even they themselves wouldnt believe this desperate marketing gimmick.
    And lots of ‘proud’ owners wont agree too as buying into the arrogance is part of the owning factor.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Vwowner on Dec 24, 2015 at 11:07 pm

    I’m not sure you guys comments are constructive. The topic is about the brand changing slogan looking towards changing of image. Of course VW have been a bad names but I think you guys are judgmental. I have faced issues with my car but It works fine now and I’m actually quite happy with it. Of course engine lights comes on and tells you something is not right rather than driving my old car which have its piston exploded due to overheating back in 2009. So far so good on my Jetta and seriously gave me a good time overall. 3 years now and I always believe VW is going to improve as we go along. I would rather comment constructively rather than whining and pointing fingers and make jokes out of the brand. Its kind of immature to say bad things about a brand. I give a thumbs down to all those negative people out there which you were classified as pest. TQ

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
    • Good point on Dec 25, 2015 at 7:08 pm

      Lol..i noticed too. They r juz typical working class driving myvi n secretly envying those bmws audi merc vw their boss drive. Become jealous after years gone by they still cant afford it. Then get angrier when scolded by their boss on their incompetence. Enjoy your car. At least its not p1 or p2 or the the common japs.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
 

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