Car companies like BMW, GM, and Kia are using the Super Bowl to convince viewers to go electric — see the star-studded ads
- Expect to see several ads for electric cars during the Super Bowl this Sunday.
- General Motors, Kia, Nissan, and BMW will all be promoting their latest battery-powered rides.
The Super Bowl is the most-watched sporting event in the country. This year, car companies are splashing out on pricey ad slots to show off their latest and greatest electric models — and maybe convince a few of those hundred million viewers to ditch dirty fossil fuels along the way.
In 2021, we saw a star-studded ad from General Motors drumming up beef with Norway, which sells far more electric cars per capita than the US. "We're going to crush those lugers. Crush them!" Will Ferrell says in the ad. Another GM spot with Timotheé Chalamet promoted the upcoming Cadillac Lyriq, the brand's first electric SUV.
This year, as car companies from BMW to Kia work feverishly to push electric cars into the mainstream, the big game will feature even more commercials touting flashy battery-powered models. Check out some of the full ads and teasers below:
BMW: "Zeus & Hera"
BMW enlisted Arnold Schwarzenegger to promote the iX, its first electric SUV for the US market. In the ad, Zeus, the Greek god of lightning, played by Schwarzenegger, retires to Palm Springs, California. He can't quite enjoy himself until his wife Hera, played by Salma Hayek, shows up with an iX SUV.
General Motors: "Dr. EV-il"
BMW wasn't the only company to enlist A-list actors. GM reunited the cast of "Austin Powers" for an ad in which Dr. Evil takes over the Detroit automaker.
Kia: "Robo Dog"
Kia's heartwarming spot depicts an incredibly cute robot dog who runs around town chasing after the brand's new EV6 SUV. It shows off the EV6's two-way charging capability: When the dog's battery dies, it's charged back up right off of the SUV's battery.
EV6 owners can essentially use the SUV as a mobile generator to power computers, appliances, and other EVs.
Nissan: "Thrill Driver"
Nissan's electric Ariya crossover gets a cameo in this ad promoting the Z sports car. The Ariya is Nissan's first new electric model since it launched the Leaf hatchback more than a decade ago.
Polestar
Polestar is a newer electric-car brand that spun out of Volvo in 2017. It only recently started selling its first serious, mass-market model, the fantastic Polestar 2. Polestar will run its first Super Bowl ad ever on Sunday, in hopes of making the little-known brand a household name.
According to a teaser the company shared on social media, the ad won't have any of the usual Super Bowl commercial tropes like supermodels, babies, or Clydesdales. As for what will be in the ad — we'll have to wait until Sunday.