Last year there was a bit of a lack of any decent April Fool's Day jokes, so we seemed to skip covering any of the usual hi-jinx, but this year there's been plenty of japes and some of the automotive world's finest have been hard at work thinking of some convincing gags.
Perhaps it's the rise of AI, but this year we've seen plenty, many of which have just been short posts on social media - Linkedin being the prime suspect for dubious news.
Here are some of the best we've seen, but if you want to catch-up on April Fool's Day 2024 (we we said, we missed last year probably through sheer apathy towards it all, or more likely some travelling) then you can check out some of the pranks - a few of which were quite.... OK. You'll also notice a bit of a theme with this year's ones too.
Read: Auto April Fools rated from Isuzu perfume to VW Harlequin lights
April Fool's jokes require a certain level of subtly, but they also need to actually be jokes. Some of them tread a strange line between actually being real.
Skoda is a prime example. We know virtually nothing about cars, because well.... they're not vans. So this, for all we know, could well be a thing all cars have. But, a dog wash, in your door. Really?
It could be a real thing. It's quite convincing. They've listed a bunch of dog related awards they've won for their vehicles. The picture doesn't looks totally unrealistic either. It's a pretty good attempt at a joke, and it's an exceptional one, if this turns out to be realy. It has though, got a pretty sketchy name. Škoda Hound Hose. Really...
We hope it's true. It's a mental idea, but we'd use it if it were a real thing. So fair play Skoda. Real or not. Full marks.
Not to be outdone, but coming in (to our inboxes at least) late in the evening before April Fool's day was this cracker from Ciceley Commercials. About bees. Yes, bees. Honey bees. 640,000 of them. We took it at face value, and you should too. Bees on commercial property... It's a real thing.
But the picture... with a three-pointed star bee. I mean, it's almost too good.
The name alone gives you doubts, but Chinese manufacturer Skywell's attempt at an April Fool doesn't tick any boxes for us.
For one, most people buying a Skywell probably don't even know what the word cognitive means. Also... what's a Skywell?! (They will be making a Skywell van soon, so stay tuned).
But, "a revolutionary system that allows drivers’ positive thoughts and actions to extend their vehicle’s battery range". Nah... Pass.
The accompanying picture is also so boring we can't even be bothered to download it. It's a brain symbol button, on the steering wheel, next to your audio controls. Meh.
There's a war going on, or at least a handful of wars, so it's little wonder the topic of fuel prices has cropped up in the automotive April Fool's Day repetoire.
Farizon, put in a pretty good effort, but it's one of those predictable ones, like a pun from Tim Vine. Midly clever, but ultimately something you might have thought of down the pub.
It's for a new driving mode "aimed at those who miss the odour and feel of traditional diesel-powered alternatives". A bit of a confusing message perhaps for an electric-only van brand.
The quoted expert, however, deserves a special nod of recognition. Elektra van O'Dor, Lead Era-defining Vehicle Attributes Engineer at Farizon. It's not something you're likely to fall for, but it's alright.
That name is a lot better than Chery's attempt at a 'spokesperson' but it's probably not the only time Joe King will get a mention on April Fool's Day.
He was promoting the CHERY TI-NO 4 CSH, in Pinch White. A cut down version of a car without any sort of specifications. It's probably clever, but we can't be bothered to find out why it might be. Chery will be making a van though. We'll find out more about that at the CV Show later this month - and that's not a joke.
Germans are notoriously good at jokes. I know plenty of very funny Germans, and their jokes are even ok too. But there's something in the delivery.
Well, it would seem the Chinese are pushing hard to not only take over their car industry but also their terrible joke delivery. We've already seen Farizon and Chery, but those cut-price Range Rover lads over at Jaecoo are at it as well.
Grass-Floor Mats. Really.
Then there's the other half of the brand Omoda, with it's playful attempt at humoour and the line "Omoda rebrands to FOMODA – a purposeful nod to the “Fear of Missing Out”.
There's a picture. We won't be sharing it.
Volkswagen are old hands at this April Fool's Day joke business. This year's attempt. Well... it's a new safety option. Not sure that'll interest anyone, but it's not the worst one.
"The new T-Roc is the first Volkswagen that can be programmed with a chirpy new safety option: the Canary-Assist blind spot monitor."
Can't say we get it, but equally can't be bothered to find out why it might be clever. We do like the litte bird graphic though.
Those were a selection of jokes from manufacturers who've put them out as press releases, but there's a growing trend for social media jokes, which let's face it could quite honestly mean they're absolutely true.
One that isn't, however, is this Ford Maverick which has defied the laws of physics, but given us a great photo to post. It's a self charging truck, that will be available from 1 April next year. We'll look forward to that then.
Then there's been a couple of soft-top or roof-less trucks, and a Ford Ranger Popemobile. None of which looks like they've been officially sanctioned, but clearly the internet has a thing for unbelievable car jokes.
Our friends at Guinness World Records have even got in on the act, althought not with an automotive theme. They've got far greater ambitions with a search for a new Moon adjudicator.
A social media promo featured our 24 hour friend Judge Jo, who was the Guinness World Records adjudicator when we set a world record in the Kia PV5.
The last mention, however, must go to my pal Henrik from Swiss magazine TIR transNews.
Henrik tells me he was thinking late last evening about an April Fool's Day joke and was complaining to his AI that he'd usually have done one by now. But then inspiration struck.
A Swiss start-up has inveted a fully autonomous mobile home for manager without time for holidays. The van will travel by itelse to produce social media content for you to post online, and it will even buy the souvenirs.
The more you work and stay at home getting stressed, the more the helpful van ups the YOLO posting to your socials.
I think he might have found a new business venture.
