VW's Force of Good website updated

[ASurroca]

30 November 2005
NEW BEETLE ‘FORCE OF GOOD’ CAMPAIGN ADDS MOMENTUM WITH NEW, INTERACTIVE WEB SITE

Web site enhances New Beetle’s mission to spread joy and happines

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – In the latest installment of the nationwide New Beetle ‘Force of Good’ campaign, Volkswagen has launched a mini-website to further spread fun and good cheer. The Web site, www.forceofgood.com, allows users to do battle with everyday foes, meet interesting, fellow New Beetle owners, and learn more about the recent tour that showered unsuspecting people with goodwill from coast-to-coast.

The Force of Good campaign is based on the notion that the New Beetle embodies the spirit of fun and goodness. Volkswagen has embraced the New Beetle as its mascot in bringing joy to everyone in its reach.

The new Web site chronicles the Force of Good tour, in which ambassadors drove New Beetles cross-country, spreading joy in New York City, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Seattle, San Francisco and Miami. The ambassadors battled everyday evils wherever they went -- surprising drivers by paying parking meters and tolls, quenching thirsts with IZZE® all-natural sparkling juice on hot, dry days, delivering free coffee to motorists during rush hour and participating in a range of local volunteer initiatives.

With help from the Web site, the New Beetle continues to spread cheer by battling common annoyances, such as melting ice cream cones, burnt toast and alarm clocks. Visit the Web site to get to know New Beetle owners who help their communities in very special ways, and use a New Beetle convertible to catch “friends” (a gift, cat, ice cream cone and toilet paper) and deflect “foes” (Brussels sprouts, burnt toast, port-a-potty and a monster).

“The New Beetle makes people smile,” explains Tesa Aragones, eBusiness leader at Volkswagen of America, Inc. “Our new Force of Good Web site helps spread the feeling of goodness and happiness that is shared by the community of New Beetle owners. It’s a fun Web site that reminds us to enjoy life and do good things for others.”

As part of the Force of Good campaign, Volkswagen is donating one dollar to worthy organizations for every New Beetle or New Beetle Convertible built online at www.vw.com. Customers can build their car and select one of three organizations: Young Audiences, America's Second Harvest or ComedyCures. Volkswagen will donate one dollar to the organization in the customer’s name.

Founded in 1955, Volkswagen of America, Inc. is headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It is a subsidiary of Volkswagen AG, headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany. Volkswagen is one of the world’s largest producers of passenger cars and Europe’s largest automaker. Volkswagen of America and its affiliates employ approximately 3,000 people in the United States and are responsible for the sale and service of Audi, Bentley, and Volkswagen products through retail networks comprising in total more than 900 independent U.S. dealers.

source: Volkswagen of America press release

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The press release says they just launched the website, but it has been for a while now. They've updated it with little bios on some New (and one aircooled) Beetle owners and their good deeds; a little game (which already has absurdly unbeatable high-scores); and a trailer for this film about the guys who went on the Force of Good tour, which will be available at VW dealers.

Also notable is that last bit: go to the car configurator at VW's site, and they'll donate $1 to charity. Obviously goes hand in hand with the "force of good" concept. Nifty!