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
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
- 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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