Volkswagen has been accused of “deception” and spreading “misinformation” in the US following an early April Fool’s prank which suggested the German car brand was set for a ‘Voltswagen’ rebrand.

A press release issued from the brand’s US base at Auburn Hills, Michigan, yesterday (March 30) headlined "Voltswagen: A new name for a new era of e-Mobility", caused a stir on social media as it appeared a bizarre re-brand tied to its push towards electrification could be on the cards across the Atlantic.

The release announced, "the official change of its US brand name from Volkswagen of America to Voltswagen of America".

As part of the prank, division president and chief executive Scott Keogh was quoted in a message posted via Twitter – later deleted – that said: "We might be changing out our K for a T, but what we aren't changing is this brand's commitment to making best-in-class vehicles for drivers and people everywhere."

But the early April Fool’s Day joke backfired after bona fide journalists who contacted Volkswagen US to ascertain for certain whether there was any truth in the statements were allegedly told it was true.