.volkswagen domain extension

The .volkswagen domain is a branded generic top-level domain (gTLD) intended for use by the Volkswagen Group and its affiliates. It was originally delegated to Volkswagen Group of America Inc. in January 2016. The domain never went live in the root zone, meaning no public websites were ever served on it. Its purpose was to provide a controlled namespace for the automaker's digital ecosystem, similar to other corporate TLDs. However, the delegation was revoked in November 2023, making .volkswagen effectively defunct. As of the IANA record update, the domain is not assigned to any sponsor, and no registry operator is listed. It remains a notable example of a brand TLD that was approved but later withdrawn.

Volkswagen applied for .volkswagen during ICANN's 2012 new gTLD program. The string was delegated on January 6, 2016. After just under eight years, the domain was revoked on November 20, 2023. The specific reasons for revocation are not detailed in the public IANA record, but it often follows a registry's request or failure to meet operational requirements.