The carmaker is to reorganise its used car business under the motto “Das WeltAuto. Used cars you can trust. Guaranteed.”

The new branding will be rolled out first in Germany on 1 June, followed shortly after by Russia, Italy, France, the UK, and the USA, with further countries lined up for later.

The company says that the new "Das WeltAuto" branding enables it to create a common platform for all markets, thereby professionalising its used car business on a sustainable basis. It adds that the reorganisation reflects the high significance of the used car business.

Christian Klingler, the board member responsible for sales, said '"Das WeltAuto" is not simply a new name. Our mission is to deliver the performance and quality our customers expect from Volkswagen for our used cars as well. Going forward, there will be clear standards and a comprehensive customer promise at attractive prices for every used car under the "Das WeltAuto" brand. And that will apply worldwide.'

VW says that customers who buy a used car under the ‘Das WeltAuto’ programme can expect more comprehensive quality checks accompanied by an appropriate warranty promise. As is presently the case for new vehicles, customers will also be able to hand in their old vehicle in part exchange if they so wish, and will be entitled to exchange the vehicle if it fails to meet their expectations. Other features of the new programme include an extended warranty and financial services, and there are also plans to add vehicle customisation at a later stage.