Thomais Zaremba, Managing Director, Automotive, Google »
Flying cars may have been a sign of the times on “The Jetsons,” but in real life, electric vehicles (EVs) are ushering us into the future. Just as gas-powered engines replaced horse-drawn carts a century ago, EVs are disrupting the industry and setting the standard for the next hundred years of auto innovation.
In short, EVs are taking over. EV sales in the U.S. rose 62% in the first half of this year, and now make up 5% of new car sales. While this may sound small, it actually marks a tipping point for EV adoption. The shift to EVs could also accelerate rapidly, as drivers are still feeling squeezed by higher gas prices. In fact, searches for “best gas mileage” are growing globally by 90% year over year. And, according to industry analysts, about 45% of new car sales could be electric by 2035.
These numbers have helped automakers see the EV light. They’re investing over $526 billion in an all-electric future, which includes building new assembly lines and parts, learning to produce and store batteries, and preparing for changing tax implications.
But is their marketing keeping pace too? As brands work to get EVs in the hands of consumers, many auto marketers are still relying on an outdated playbook. Here are three ways they can rethink stale strategies and make their EV marketing as electric as their vehicles.