At some point internally, top management decided that the risk of misleading reporters and the public — again — was worth the potential reward. And they might be right.

The concept points to a future line of vehicles with enhanced performance, safety and a signature driving style.

The name "Voltswagen" will be placed as an exterior badge on the automaker's electric models in the U.S., a person familiar with the company's plans said.

The pilot plant in Salzgitter, Germany, can recover the vast majority of expensive elements used in production of lithium ion battery cathodes, fueling their remanufacture.

Oliver Schmidt was paroled last week by a German court, less than halfway through his seven-year sentence from the U.S. for his part in Volkswagen's global emissions scandal.

Sales of the base model will be wound down, but the Golf R and Golf GTI models, manufactured in Germany, will continue to be imported into the U.S. as the Puebla plant transitions to new products, including the Taos subcompact crossover.

The anticipation for the Volkswagen ID Buzz is building among dealers — inside and outside the automaker's retail network — ahead of the Microbus-inspired battery electric's U.S. launch in 2023, according to the region's top executive.

Sara Whiffen, 47, will begin immediately in the newly created role, reporting to Audi of America President Daniel Weissland.

The first sales of the VW ID4 crossover were planned for ZEV states by the end of 2020, but sources say the U.S. launch is now planned for March 2021. The move prioritizes European sales of the EV and could lower expected fines for failing to meet carbon dioxide reduction targets there.

Audi of America also will move to the new location, as will other subsidiaries including Lamborghini of America, Bentley, Bugatti and Volkswagen Credit. In all, the move will involve about 1,000 workers in or near the headquarters.

When it arrives at U.S. dealerships next summer, the brand will have a second offering in the crowded, popular segment — a model that will be shorter and less expensive than the Tiguan.

The new model will go on sale next year and slot below the Tiguan in both size and price.

The ID4 crossover is expected to be revealed globally on Sept. 23 and will arrive in U.S. dealers at the end of the year.

In a sign of the challenges facing incumbent EV makers in the wake of Tesla's success, Audi is lowering the price of its first battery-electric crossover to $66,995, including shipping, while increasing the EPA-estimated range from 204 to 222 miles.

EVs are at an inflection point as mass-market consumers gain reassurance that charging is widely available and designs look more traditional.