Kane William 
Overview
Elon Musk, the owner of SpaceX and Tesla, is a well-known businessman who has always taken an unconventional approach to advertising and marketing. His participation in well-known advertising, particularly those for the Super Bowl, has sparked debate.
In the past few years, several reports have been circulating regarding Musk’s involvement in Super Bowl commercials ranging from indirect brand presence to scandals over Tesla’s Autopilot system.
The Article delves into those narratives to have a complete picture of Musk’s Super Bowl advertising experience.
Tesla’s Non-Traditional Advertising Strategy
Tesla has surprisingly eschewed traditional advertising channels, instead choosing to depend on word of mouth, social media engagement, and the very personal brand of Elon Musk. This is in stark contrast to other automakers that shell out huge sums on traditional advertising, especially on the Super Bowl. Tesla has nevertheless managed to establish a robust brand and presence within the marketplace.
Indirect Appearance in Super Bowl Advertising
While Tesla does not directly sponsor Super Bowl commercials, the brand has been exposed indirectly through a number of channels:
- Inclusion in Ads of Other Companies: Tesla vehicles have been used in other companies’ ads. For instance, the Tesla Model Y featured in a Popeyes advert, providing the brand with visibility without paying to advertise.
- Competitors’ Electric Vehicle Ads: Increased number of electric car ads by competing car companies on the Super Bowl actually serves to further highlight Tesla’s pioneering role in the EV sector. This is likely to generate further demand and attention towards Tesla, as it generated a spike in orders following the 2022 Super Bowl.
Provoking Ads During Super Bowl Targeting Tesla
Tesla’s Autopilot feature has been the subject of criticism, which has led to vicious Super Bowl ads:
- Ads by Dan O’Dowd: California billionaire and Dawn Project founder Dan O’Dowd has been a long-time critic of Tesla’s Autopilot feature. He paid to air ads on the Super Bowl featuring so-called safety issues with Tesla’s driver-assistance technologies, including where the cars failed to detect child-scale mannequins. The ads attempted to bring to light potential dangers posed by Tesla’s driver-assistance technologies.
Disinformation about Musk’s Super Bowl Advertising
There have been claims of disinformation about Elon Musk’s own investment in Super Bowl ads:
False $40 Million Super Bowl Ads Claims: Rumors had been circulating that Musk had paid $40 million on Super Bowl ads to highlight government inefficiencies. Fact-checking organizations, however, disproved the claims, confirming that no commercials were aired on the event.
SpaceX’s Foray into Super Bowl Advertising
Though Tesla steers clear of Super Bowl advertising, Musk’s other business, SpaceX, has gained visibility through collaborations:
- T-Mobile’s Starlink Advertisement: T-Mobile recently aired a Super Bowl advertisement promoting its partnership with SpaceX’s Starlink to deliver a solution to cell dead zones. The advertisement highlighted SpaceX’s satellite internet offering as a solution to fill gaps where cellular networks fail.
Impact on Share Price Performance and Tesla’s Brand
Elon Musk’s public profile and marketing approach have influenced the brand and share performance of Tesla:
- Stock Volatility: Tesla shares have fluctuated, with recent drops being caused by concerns over Musk’s political activities impacting the favorability ratings of the firm. In spite of this setback, the stock has grown substantially over the last year.
- Brand Perception: The absence of Super Bowl advertising has not had any impact on the brand recognition of Tesla. In fact, the unconventional marketing approach, backed by the celebrity-like public profile of Musk, still creates enormous public attention and media hype.
Conclusion
Elon Musk’s Super Bowl advertising approach is in line with his overall brand marketing style skirting conventional channels and instead using creative and circuitous means. While Tesla itself is not directly engaged in Super Bowl commercials, the brand is indirectly visible and is at the center of surrounding conversation around the event. Misinformation campaigns and outside criticism have further intertwined Musk’s business activities with Super Bowl advertisement discourse, illustrating the complex and multifaceted nature of modern brand management.
FAQs
1. Did Elon Musk acquire any Super Bowl commercials?
No, Elon Musk purchased no Super Bowl ads. He has previously stated that he doesn’t feel paying for regular advertising is worth it.
2. Did Elon Musk advertise Tesla or any of his other companies at the Super Bowl ever?
No, Tesla nor any of Musk’s other companies, SpaceX or X (formerly Twitter), have bought Super Bowl ads. Tesla relies on word-of-mouth advertising as well as social media engagement.
3. Why doesn’t Elon Musk advertise the Super Bowl?
For Musk, it is preferable to build great products and services rather than advertise. Musk has been vocal in his criticism of the need to pay for advertising, emphasizing organic brand establishment.
4. Were any of the companies associated with Musk advertised at the Super Bowl?
Though Tesla, SpaceX, and other companies controlled by Musk didn’t advertise, third-party businesses, such as EV charging businesses, could have referred to Tesla items indirectly.
5. Did Elon Musk have any Super Bowl involvement?
Though he didn’t advertise, Musk has been to Super Bowls previously. His attendance at major sports events tends to attract media attention.
