Tesla has long been known for its ad-averse approach, relying instead on word-of-mouth to promote its vehicles.
However, during the company’s latest shareholder meeting, Tesla CEO Elon Musk hinted at a possible shift in strategy.
In response to an audience question about advertising, Musk stated that Tesla would “try a little advertising and see how it goes.”
This is a significant departure from Musk’s previous stance on advertising, as he had stated a few years ago that he hated advertising and that Tesla used money other automakers set aside for ads and endorsements “to make the product great.”
Musk’s change of heart about advertising is apparently linked to his acquisition of Twitter, which makes most of its money from ads.
During the shareholder meeting, Musk acknowledged the irony of this situation, saying, “Here I am, never used advertising really before, and now I have a company that’s highly dependent on advertising. So, I guess I should say advertising is awesome, and everyone should do it.”
Musk explained that Tesla vehicles have functionalities and features that most people don’t know about, and that the company posts about them on its Twitter account.
However, he acknowledged that this is like “preaching to the choir,” and that Tesla needs to reach a wider audience.
He suggested that Tesla ads could be “informative and entertaining,” so that they’re more like content than typical advertisements.
He also hinted that future Tesla ads could highlight the lesser-known features of its vehicles.
Musk’s comments about advertising came during a shareholder meeting where he also teased two new EVs.
He stated that the design and manufacturing techniques for these vehicles “are head and shoulders above anything else that is present in the industry.”
He also revealed that Tesla is already in the process of “building a new product,” which suggests that the company may already be working on a prototype for at least one of the new EVs.
It remains to be seen how Tesla’s advertising strategy will evolve in the coming months and years. However, Musk’s comments suggest that the company is open to exploring new avenues for promoting its vehicles.
While Tesla has been successful without traditional advertising up to this point, it may be looking for new ways to reach potential customers and stand out in an increasingly crowded market.
Source: Engadget
