Watch Will Ferrell push electric vehicles—and bash Norway—in GM’s Super Bowl ad

Kenan Thompson and Awkwafina join him in campaign promoting mass market acceptance of EVs

Published On
Feb 03, 2021

Editor's Pick

Norway ranks way ahead of the U.S. when it comes to electric vehicle adoption—a fact that does not sit well with Will Ferrell in General Motors’ Super Bowl ad.

The automaker, which teased the comedic actor’s appearance in its ad earlier this week, released the full 60-second spot today. The ad from McCann Worldgroup shows a visibly upset Ferrell leaving his house to take on a mission to “crush those lugers.” He picks up Kenan Thompson and Awkwafina along the way to the Norwegian country but ends up in Sweden, while Thompson and Awkwafina find themselves in Finland.

Along the way Ferrell squeezes in some corporate talking points about GM’s proprietary Ultium batteries that he plugs as “made for all types of vehicles, so soon everyone can drive an EV.” The spot ends by touting GM’s ambition of launching “30 new EVs by 2025.”

The ad, called "No Way, Norway" is a part of GM's “Everybody In” EV awareness campaign that launched in early January. 

U.S. automakers have been touting electric vehicles for years—Audi ran Super Bowl ads for EVs in 2019 and 2020—but they have yet to catch hold with large numbers of Americans. EVs account for less than 4% market share in the U.S.—but in Norway, more than half of the number of vehicles sold are electric, according to GM. 

GM will run a second Super Bowl ad for an electric Cadillac model.

“The big game is the perfect venue for the incomparable Will Ferrell to encourage us all to reconsider what we know about electric vehicles, and to invite Everybody In,” GM global Chief Marketing Officer Deborah Wahl said in a statement.  "We admire his passion for EVs and share Norway’s pursuit of an all-electric future.”

Ferrell added a punchline: “I’m excited to be a part of GM’s commitment to EVs. I’ve been driving an EV since the mid-80’s ... well, actually it was a regular car with 4 AA batteries taped to the carburetor, but it felt like an EV! We’re coming for you Norway!!”

The ad was directed by Jake Szymanski, who has previously collaborated with Ferrell. 

The teaser campaign included a video of Ferrell pranking Norway by ordering the country 5 million pizzas with anchovies. 

Credits

Date
Feb 03, 2021
Client :
General Motors
Agency :
McCann Worldgroup
Global Chief Marketing Officer :
Deborah Wahl
Director Brand Experience GM Global Brand Marketing :
Megan Stooke
General Director Global Media and Marketing Services :
Heather E Stewart
Branded Entertainment Manager :
Sarah Schrode
Global Marketing Manager :
Danielle Yocum
Chief Creative Officer :
Chuck Meehan
Chief Creative Officer :
Brad Emmett
Creative Director / AD :
Michael Raso
Creative Director / Writer :
James Lemaitre
GM Global Business Lead & Chief Executive Officer Commonwealth :
Grant Theron
Chief Strategy Officer :
Anne Feighan
SVP Group Account Director :
Michael Panley
Account Director :
Jason Dale
Account Supervisor :
Amanda Macielak
EVP Global Director of Content :
Jeff Beverly
Senior Producer :
Adam Van Dyke
SVP Director of Business Affairs :
Laurie Pyykonen
Associate Director Business Management :
Julie Peterhans
Associate Director Business Affairs :
Stacy Swann
Business Manager :
Deb Silva
VP Broadcast Traffic Manager :
Production Company :
Gifted Youth
Director :
Jake Szymanski
Director 2nd Unit :
Nick Jasenovec
Executive Producer :
Josh Morse
Head of Production :
Casey Wooden
Producer :
Stephan Mohammed
Director of Photography :
Kramer Morgenthau
Editorial :
Rock Paper Scissors
Editor :
Adam Pertofsky
Executive Producer :
Shade Shariatzaheh
Producer :
Janae Abraham
Editor :
Zoe Mougin
VFX / Finishing :
Framestore
Executive Producer :
Dan Roberts
Producer :
Katie Buckley
Creative Director :
Alex Thomas
Audio Mix & Sound Design :
Lime
Sound Design and Mix :
Rohan Young
Audio Assistant :
Jeremy Nichols
Executive Producer :
Susie Boyajan
Color :
Company 3
Colorist :
Stefan Sonnefeld
Color Producer :
Blake Rice
Post Music :
JSM Music
CEO/CCO/Co-composer :
Joel Simon
VP/Executive Producer :
Jeff Fiorello
Producer :
Norm Felker
Producer :
Andrew Manning
Producer :
Sharon Cha
Co-Composer :
Rebecca Riter

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