GM’s Latest Chevy Volt Ads Downright Taunt Prius And Leaf
By Paulo Acoba
GM dropped their latest Chevrolet Volt ads and they go on the offensive against Nissan Leaf and Volt.
You’d think electric cars and hybrid were running for president by the way GM is taking on the offensive in their latest two ads, but it’s a bold move. Earlier this week (Oct. 2, 2015) GM went ahead and dropped their latest ads for the 2016 Chevrolet Volt and used the strengths of the Volt to prey upon the weaknesses of the Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf. Take a look at both ads below and tell us what you think in the comments below!
The first ad features a couple of people hopping onto an elevator with the elevator getting stuck halfway down. Range anxiety. With the Nissan Leaf only capable of only 107 miles on a single charge, you can theoretically only go about 53.5 miles away from home before you have to turn around and head back. The Chevrolet Volt on the other hand only has a 53-mile electric range only but has a gas generator that kicks in to deliver power to the electric motors which enables a total range of 420 miles. With an expanding electric supercharger network thanks to Tesla Motors, charging your EV is becoming more and more convenient and stations are popping up everyday. In addition, battery technology only improves and Teslas latest battery pack in the Model S have the capability of more than 276 miles of range. Only people who don’t plan their trips with EV’s should ever get stuck.
The second ad is a bit harder to grasp but “actors” sit around a table and are introduced to all sorts of a old technology that the GM representative says is new. Not taking the bait, he unfurls a set of doors to reveal the Toyota Prius and Chevrolet Volt saying how the Prius uses old battery technology (Nickel Metal Hydride) while the Chevrolet Volt sports lithium ion batteries. Honestly, if NiMH batteries get the job done for the Toyota Prius, why make the car more expensive?
These ads might not sway the smart consumer who does their homework, but they just might sway your average consumer who was on the fence between Volt versus Leaf or Prius. And those unpaid supposed real actors? Sure.