.volkswagen
| Status: | Delegated |
| Registry Provider: | Afilias |
| Type: | Brand TLD |
| Priority #: | 1351 - Volkswagen Group of America Inc. |
More information: 
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.volkswagen is a Brand TLD delegated in ICANN's New gTLD Program. Volkswagen Group of America Inc.'s application to succeeded and the extension was delegated to the Root Zone on 09 January 2015. [1][2] The TLD is one of the few Brand TLDs that has been applied for as an open TLD, that is, it will not be closed of for exclusive corporate uses but open to outside registrants.[3]
Application Details[edit | edit source]
The following is excerpted from the applicant's response to question #18:
"The applicant, Volkswagen Group of America, is the US subsidiary of the second largest car manufacturer worldwide, Volkswagen AG. Volkswagen Group of America has a history in car making in the US for more than 60 years and was founded in 1955. The Company has its registered office and principal place of business in Herndon, VA, United States. The duration of the Company is not restricted to a certain period. The object of the company is the development, production and sale of motor vehicles as well as vehicles and engines of all kinds, the accessories thereof and all machines, tools and other technical articles.
According to the latest ranking of Interbrand from 2011 the brand VOLKSWAGEN is listed on position 47 on the list of the “World‘s Most Valuable Brands”.
Volkswagen Group of America is applying for the .volkswagen top-level domain with the following mission and purpose:
The .volkswagen top-level domain is intended to serve the needs of the US branch and to benefit the worldwide Volkswagen Group in terms of (a) differentiating, protecting and expanding its brand, (b) promoting its brand to the public and stakeholders, and (c) creating added value for its brand by enhanced consumer trust and reliability in the digital space.
The .volkswagen top-level domain has the purpose to support the goals of Volkswagen Group of America and its parent company in becoming the number one automotive brand through continuous growth and by developing innovative products, positioning the company as a highly attractive employer and delivering an outstanding brand experience. The .volkswagen top-level domain will also substantiate the Volkswagen brand claim “Volkswagen. Das Auto.” (translates to: Volkswagen. The Car.).
Volkswagen Group of America hereby states that according to Specification 9 Para. 6 in the New gTLD Agreement
- all domain names in the .volkswagen top-level domain will be registered to, and maintained by, Volkswagen Group of America for its own exclusive use,
- Volkswagen Group of America will not sell, distribute or transfer control or use of any registrations in the .volkswagen top-level domain to any third party that is not an Affiliate of Volkswagen Group of America, and
- the application of the Code of Conduct to the .volkswagen top-level domain is not necessary to protect the public interest.[4]