VW to Sponsor Gay Pride in Milton Keynes Feat. PRID.3


Volkswagen’s To Be Part of Milton Keynes gay Pride Festival

This exciting news comes as Volkswagen’s first engagement in a UK-based Pride. To celebrate, the 11 September event will see world debut of the PRID.3 – a one-off, custom-designed ID.3, modified for display at the Pride festival to symbolise Volkswagen UK’s Diversity and Inclusion programme.

The unique PRID.3 was made specially specifically the festival. Its distinctive design was inspired by the psychedelic camouflage pattern used on ID.3 prototypes. To give Pride an extra joyful boost, this cammo is resplendent in the Progress Pride flag colours, creating a meaningful and eye-catching livery for the model.

The pattern, the car, and the fact that VW is whole-heartedly throwing itself into the event, demonstrates Volkswagen’s new relationship with Pride, commitment to inclusion, and a celebration of diversity.

The eleven colours of the Progress Pride include the traditional red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple joined by black and brown to represent LGBTQ+ people of colour; and pink, light blue and white to include transgender people. All of these colours merge into one another in an ombré effect, to reflect the community and togetherness of all communities and identities, as well as celebrating their differences.

The wrap was created in collaboration between Volkswagen AG, Volkswagen UK and Creative FX, which rendered the wrap and applied it to the donor ID.3 – a Glacier White example – before it earned its stripes to become the PRID.3. The camouflage pattern took one-and-a-half days to design from start to finish, and three days to apply to the car at the Creative FX studio in Bromley, with three staff working on applying the wrap. The model will be on display to staff in the Volkswagen Group UK atrium from 6 September for the entire week, to encourage colleagues to attend the festival, after which it will take pride of place at the festival on Saturday 11 September.

Above: This Week  Goodbye 2021 LC200 LandCruiser Sahara, Hello LC300 FULL Review

Help Support Gay Car Boys Subscribe to our Youtube Channel 

ABOVE: Volkswagen ID.3 – PRID.3 at Gay Pride Milton Keynes 2021

Based on the ID.3 Life Pro Performance, the PRID.3 has a power output of 204 PS and torque of 310 Nm, and a range of up to 264 miles (WLTP, combined). The model is completely road legal, and can therefore be transported without assistance – maintaining the zero tailpipe emissions benefits of the ID.3, and drawing attention from passers-by when on the road.

Volkswagen UK chose Milton Keynes Pride Festival as the nearest Pride to the company’s headquarters, with the event benefitting the local community through providing a safe space for local LGBTQ+ people, as well as contributing to local projects ranging from educational development programmes, to youth groups, and Q:Alliance, a local LGBTQ+ charity. The festival takes place on 11 September in Campbell Park, Milton Keynes, with gates opening at midday.

The brand’s sponsorship of Milton Keynes Pride Festival covers the Community Tent and Sensory Area – two spaces where families can enjoy themselves while being a part of Pride. The Community Tent will host family-friendly acts including authors, pantomime shows and magic performers, while the Sensory Area caters to families with neurodiversity requirements, and provides a more peaceful place away from the buzz of the main entertainment, should attendees need to break away.

In addition to sponsorship of these two attractions, Volkswagen will also have a sponsor area, where visitors can find out more about the brand’s Diversity and Inclusion focus and activities. Stationed here will be Pride volunteers from Volkswagen Group, on hand to inform visitors why Volkswagen chose to be involved in this event – what it means for the brand, why it fits with the company’s values, and where it sits within the wider Diversity and Inclusion initiatives of the Volkswagen Group, both in the UK and internationally. The PRID.3 will be displayed opposite this sponsor area, allowing visitors viewing the car to find out more from Volkswagen Group colleagues nearby, as well as visitors to the sponsor area to take a look at the car once they have visited the friendly Volkswagen Group team attending the stand.

Volkswagen’s involvement in Milton Keynes Pride Festival was borne in the We Drive Proud UK Employee Network Group (ENG), but has since spread to the wider business, as more and more colleagues expressed their interest in getting involved in the colourful and enriching project. The task team eventually attracted more than 20 volunteers from across Volkswagen Group UK, with additional team members scheduled to attend the brand’s sponsor area on 11 September.

Volkswagen’s We Drive Proud UK network was established in late 2019. The group continued to meet remotely throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, hosting several high-profile online events such as talks with prominent LGBTQ+ figureheads and senior global executives. Membership has expanded from a handful of original attendees to include Board and management team members, with LGBTQ+ colleagues represented, as well as supporters and friends from across the business, both UK-based and international. Volkswagen Group UK’s involvement in Milton Keynes Pride Festival has further raised awareness of the network, which has continued to grow in membership as the festival approaches.

The We Drive Proud UK network sits within a wider Diversity and Inclusion programme at Volkswagen Group UK, with Driven WomenCultural Diversity and Parents and Carers ENGs set up on behalf of further community groups within the workforce. Further information on Volkswagen Group’s Diversity and Inclusion programme can be found here: Volkswagen Group | Careers (vwgjobs.co.uk)

Andrew Savvas, Director of Volkswagen UK, said: “The PRID.3 brings together what we do as a car maker, with what we do as a responsible employer. As the PRID.3, it reflects the company giving something back to the local community. Another facet of the car shows Volkswagen looking out for its employees with inclusive and fair employment and hiring practices; and behind the ID.3 itselfre the brand’s commitment to environmental responsibility, in delivering the model carbon neutral to customers, and providing a genuinely affordable electric car.

“Being involved in Milton Keynes Pride Festival as a major employer in the area is a brilliant opportunity to demonstrate our support of the local community. Volkswagen means ‘People’s Car’, which stands for all people, so there’s really no better event to get behind than Pride, for the good of our colleagues, customers and community. Diversity and Inclusion are at the heart of all that we do.”

Written by Alan Zurvas

Alan Zurvas is the founder and editor of Gay Car Boys, Australia's leading LGBTQI+ automotive publication. Before launching GCB in 2008, Alan's automotive writing was published in SameSame.com.au and the Star Observer. With over 16 years of hands-on car reviewing experience, Alan brings an honest, irreverent voice to every review — championing value and innovation over brand loyalty.


Discover more from Gay Car Boys

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Discover more from Gay Car Boys

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading