In An Unusual Move, Volkswagen Is Advertising The Chevrolet Bolt EV
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German automaker Volkswagen has put itself at the fore of vehicle electrification, even going so far as to establish a subsidiary named “Electrify America” to help lay the groundwork for future Volkswagen EV sales in the United States. The subsidiary plans to spend $2 billion over the next ten years in order to expand Zero Emission Vehicle infrastructure; initiate ZEV education and outreach programs; and increase access and exposure to such vehicles across the country.
Now, as part of a $45-million public awareness campaign, Electrify America is promoting an array of different battery-electric vehicles in television and radio spots across the country. Thus, rather unusually, Volkswagen finds itself spending millions of dollars advertising the Chevrolet Bolt EV.
The Bolt EV is the focus of the first in what will be an assortment of television spots promoting electric vehicles from a range of manufacturers throughout the United States. Titled “Plug into the Present with the ‘JetStones'”, the ad depicts a man in a debadged petrol-powered vehicle stopped at a red light when a more clean-shaven, chipper version of himself pulls up alongside him in a Chevrolet Bolt EV. The man looks over at his “better” self, who smiles and nods before quickly taking off once the light turns green. A woman then says in voiceover: “With instant acceleration, electric cars are more fun to drive – and more affordable – than ever.”
Certainly, there’s something to be said for the pleasure that comes with driving a properly good, sonically pleasing petrol engine, but the ad raises a valid point: the Chevrolet Bolt’s cute, crossover styling belies its surprising capacity for driver satisfaction. The battery-electric CUV can reach 60 mph from a standstill in as little as 6.5 seconds, and the low-mounted mass of the battery pack is a recipe for fun handling. (Click here for a full review.)
Electrify America and its advertisement for the likes of the Chevrolet Bolt EV could do a lot to drive EV sales in the US, but embarrassingly, Carscoops notes, the whole campaign resulted from Volkswagen’s settlement agreements in the wake of its prosecution for cheating on diesel emissions tests. Still, we’ll take it.
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You mean VW is doing the advertising for the BOLT, like GM should be doing…?
* VW America ad
* Features Bolt, i3, Golf EV, Clarity
I don’t care for the Jetsons or the Flintstones, but that whole ad was trippy.
I expect the automakers will be banning together more on EV promotion.
To be honest prices are not low enough yet nor is charge times what is to be hoped for so they all will need to try to sell the idea.
I expect many will begin to work to unify charging stations and even work to install more charging stations.
The real problem is what if the new batteries they develop do not work with the technology they just installed. Could be expensive to upgrade.
In America the strongest market is 5% electric. The rest are much smaller. Still a lot of minds to change and work to do.
I wouldn’t say that Norway’s EV market is smaller than 5%.
I speak of the Ev 5% of the California market.
Even Norway’s numbers may pail to 5% of Californias sales. Let’s face it they are not one of the more populated countries while California car sales account for more than many countries total sales alone.
do/have you work(ed) for GM? Are you an analyst? Are you on the board? If no to any of those, how do you believe you have industry insight?
Note I said I expect….
But if you look around and have any common sense you can see what I see.
#1 in the states California is the largest EV market and reports put it at 5% EV cars now. It is growing but still at a slow rate.
#2 the average buyer is still not in the market yet.
#3 the price is still much higher than the average buyer will pay.
#4 the cars charge time is still an issue for those not I love with the EV.
#5 this segment will be like most electric item markets like the cell phone where more money is being invested so advancements will be coming that can alter the path in short order. It could outdate what we have today with just a more advanced battery.
Either way the automakers need to promote the form of transportation and try to expand the acceptance beyond what we have now.
Most areas of the country it has gone from I would never buy one to that is interesting but I will still not buy one yet. The MDGs need this segment to pick up.
As for charging it is the best interest to have a system that works for all. Imagine if we had different gas pumps for each mfg?
I hold a great interest in this segment as while I do not work for Gzm I do work in the automotive industry and this will effect what I do for a living.
I read and watch all I can on this. Not just web stories but even many trade publications that are more forward looking at technology not just models.
Never claimed to be an expert here and even stated this is what I expect. It is my opinion. But I do get a little more insight over the average observer and fan boy. 25 plus years working in the industry is going to give you some right to form an opinion.
To be honest this deal could go a number of ways depending on how the technology advances.
History teaches us this. Look at the early days of the automobile and how it’s direction changed as we advanced. Advances changed how we drove, what we drove, styling and were we drove.
Just look at the formation of the SAE and how all the things jointly promoted by them helped everyone. Just imagine if the SAE has not set standards for fastener size and everyone used what ever they wanted….. I see the EV companies at some point also working like this so they all can get this deal off the ground and more affordable. If not it still coul fail like a Baker automobile.
As of the end of 2022, Norway had approximately 817,500 electric and plug-in hybrid cars