Scott Keogh, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, spoke with Automotive Information Writer Jason Stein for the “Daily Drive” podcast after the Voltswagen prank. Listed here are edited excerpts.

Q: Numerous reporters got here to your organization after the discharge was posted briefly in your web site after which taken down and story after story, together with our personal Automotive Information story, stated the change to Voltswagen was true, attributing it to a supply. Your folks had a possibility to knock the story down, but did not. Give me your facet of that.

A: That is an concept that got here up from the advertising facet. We may do two issues. Let’s do one thing cheeky, a little bit little bit of a gag. Right here we’re at April Fools’ to say we’re so fanatical about electrification that we’ll change the very title of the corporate.

I feel clearly, indubitably, there was zero level zero intent to deceive and mislead. The intent was to get folks to chew on the joke.

One revered nationwide reporter tweeted, “I will not blame Volkswagen PR advertising and even the supply. I blame myself. Whereas this can be a humorous April Fools’ Day prank to some, I have been sick to my abdomen.” How do you react to that?

Clearly, I really feel unhealthy. The intent was to not embarrass a journalist, to make a journalist look unhealthy. The intent was to have a little bit little bit of enjoyable and get us centered on electrification.

What can each side study?

I feel belief is paramount to every little thing. And as you recognize, belief would not get constructed by a launch. Belief would not get constructed by a proclamation. It comes day in and day trip.

You and I’ve talked final fall about transparency and about VW being genuine to itself, genuine to its prospects. I need not get into the historical past and to return 5 or 6 years. And you have been very outspoken about being clear and genuine together with your buyer base. So was there only a trace of irony on this?

I see the irony. However generally, you need to push again a little bit bit. This was a gag. It was a letter change of a reputation that had no web site behind it, no trademark. It was on the week of April Fools’. I actually do not see the hyperlink that claims, “OK, they lied about TDI, outrageous, outrageous,” after which make the affiliation to this.

Would you do it once more?

I’d do it once more; I’d oversee the execution higher. I might be taking a little bit bit extra time, possibly executed in the future, a little bit little bit of a tweak. However that is all hindsight 20/20.