The Hail Mary: Why Anti-Tesla Super Bowl Ads Are Big Oil’s Desperate Play

By Copilot

Introduction

The 2024 Super Bowl was not just about touchdowns and halftime shows. It also featured a high-stakes battle off the field: the clash between Tesla, the electric car giant, and a mysterious group known as “The Dawn Project.” Their weapon of choice? Anti-Tesla ads that aired during the big game. But what’s the real story behind these ads, and why are they a Hail Mary from big oil? Let’s dive in.

The Players

Tesla: The Electric Revolution

Tesla, led by the enigmatic Elon Musk, has disrupted the automotive industry like no other. Their electric vehicles (EVs) have become status symbols, and their Autopilot and Full Self-Driving (FSD) features promise a future of hands-free driving. Tesla’s stock price soars, and its fan base is fiercely loyal.

The Dawn Project: The Hidden Puppeteer

Who is The Dawn Project? Their ads claim to be a “safety advocacy group,” but their motives remain murky. They’ve spent nearly $600,000 to run anti-Tesla ads during the Super Bowl. Their focus? Tesla’s FSD Beta program. But who’s pulling their strings?

The Anti-Tesla Ads

The Fear Factor

The Dawn Project’s Super Bowl ads play on fear. They depict Tesla vehicles mowing down child-sized dummies in parking lots, supposedly under Autopilot control. The message is clear: Tesla’s self-driving technology is dangerous. But is it?

The Inconvenient Truth

The truth is more nuanced. Tesla’s FSD Beta program is indeed in beta, and it’s not perfect. But it’s also a work in progress, constantly learning from real-world data. Accidents happen, but they’re statistically rare. The Dawn Project’s ads conveniently ignore this context.

Big Oil’s Interests

So why would big oil care about Tesla’s self-driving tech? It’s simple: EVs threaten their fossil fuel empire. As more people switch to electric cars, oil demand drops. The Dawn Project’s ads serve as a desperate attempt to slow down Tesla’s momentum.

The Hail Mary

The Last Stand

Big oil knows that Tesla is winning. Their gas-guzzling days are numbered. The anti-Tesla ads are their Hail Mary pass—a desperate attempt to create doubt, fear, and uncertainty. But will it work?

The Unintended Effect

Ironically, these ads might backfire. Tesla fans are passionate and well-informed. They see through fear tactics. Instead of turning away from Tesla, they might rally behind it even more. The Dawn Project’s Hail Mary could inadvertently strengthen Tesla’s position.

Conclusion

The anti-Tesla Super Bowl ads are more than just commercials. They’re a reflection of an industry in turmoil. Big oil is scrambling, and Tesla is charging ahead. As the dust settles, we’ll see who emerges victorious. But one thing is certain: the electric revolution is here to stay, Hail Mary or not.

Sources:

Source: Conversation with Bing, 2/12/2024
(1) The story behind that anti-Tesla Super Bowl ad | Drive. https://www.drive.com.au/caradvice/anti-tesla-super-bowl-ad/.
(2) ‘Boycott Tesla’ Super Bowl ads target self-driving technology – MSN. https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/boycott-tesla-super-bowl-ads-target-self-driving-technology/ar-BB1i8dwJ.
(3) The Inconvenient Truth about that anti-Tesla Super Bowl Ad. https://www.energyandcapital.com/the-inconvenient-truth-about-that-anti-tesla-super-bowl-ad/.
(4) There’s gonna be a Tesla ad full of lies at the Super Bowl but it isn’t …. https://electrek.co/2024/02/11/tesla-ad-full-of-lies-super-bowl-but-not-elons/.