Volkswagen has announced a global partnership with Walt Disney Animation Studios to celebrate the upcoming theatrical release of Zootopia 2, hitting cinemas on November 26, 2025. The collaboration will see custom-animated versions of Volkswagen’s ID.3, ID.4, and ID.7 Tourer appear in the film under the playful brand name “Wolfswagen,”a nod to Volkswagen’s hometown of Wolfsburg, Germany.
The automaker says the tie-in is designed to merge storytelling, innovation, and emotion. “Cooperation plays an important role in reaching new customer groups,” said Christine Wolburg, Volkswagen’s Chief Brand Officer. “Zootopia 2 shows how important it is to question prejudices and break new ground together in an entertaining way, values that Volkswagen also embodies.”
From the Big Screen to the Showroom
The collaboration extends beyond product placement. Volkswagen will run a 360-degree marketing campaign timed with the film’s debut, featuring theater and social-media spots as well as themed regional promotions. In some markets, the automaker will link the campaign with limited-time leasing offers for key models.
It’s the latest move in a long line of creative partnerships linking Volkswagen’s cars to pop culture. The company’s legacy in entertainment stretches back decades, from vintage icons like the 1977 Volkswagen Camper Van that helped define road-trip culture to modern collaborations celebrating design, nostalgia, and new technology.
Today’s Volkswagen lineup looks very different from the Beetles and Kombis of the past. The brand’s EV-centric “ID.” family leads the way, but its combustion models remain just as important, and just as storied. The company recently marked the end of another era with the end of the Touareg, closing out 24 years and 1.2 million sales of its flagship SUV.
Cross-Generational Appeal
The Zootopia 2 collaboration helps Volkswagen bridge audiences across generations. Parents familiar with the automaker’s legacy will spot subtle brand nods, while younger viewers are introduced to Volkswagen through the animated “Wolfswagen” EVs zipping through Zootopia’s animal-filled metropolis.
Volkswagen is also using the partnership to highlight its current design direction, youthful, tech-forward, and emotionally engaging. Even within its SUV lineup, models like the Tiguan emphasize digital connectivity and urban refinement, a contrast to off-road-minded rivals.
Why It Matters
For Volkswagen, Zootopia 2 is more than a marketing campaign, it’s a chance to reinforce its brand personality in a global, family-friendly context. By aligning with a film centered on inclusivity and optimism, the company underscores its own messaging around progress, imagination, and sustainable mobility.
As Zootopia 2 hits theaters this November, millions of moviegoers will see animated Volkswagens sharing the screen with Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, and for the brand, that’s a form of visibility no ad slot can buy.
