Ford Connects Mustang Mach-E To ‘Christmas Vacation’ In New Advertisement

Joy to the planet!: Ford has connected two cultural icons in a new Television set commercial for its Mustang Mach-E that debuted last week during the Saturday Night Reside Christmas unique on NBC.

Dusting off Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo to reprise their husband-and-wife roles from the vacation common comedy, Nationwide Lampoon’s Xmas Vacation, Ford recreates the classic scene from the film in which Chase’s Clark Griswold character would make a triumphal second out of turning on the Xmas lights with which he has so brilliantly adorned the outside the house of his dwelling.

It’s the new Mustang Mach-E, Ford’s very first all-electric powered just take on the traditional pony auto, that ends up saving the day when D’Angelo’s character, Ellen Griswold, thinks to supply electricity for the balky Xmas lights by hooking them up to a Mach-E in the Griswolds’ driveway — whose power reserve proves really useful in building the entire family members pleased.

“We were being fascinated in earning a statement for the brand name and being section of the cultural dialogue,” Matt VanDyke, Ford’s director of U.S. internet marketing, informed me. “We regarded as a ton of other issues, but this was a total ton of entertaining, and it shone a gentle on the Mach-E and the Ford manufacturer.”

Mustang Mach-E is not thanks in Ford dealerships until eventually early upcoming yr, when an initial group of hand-raisers will push absent with all of the initially batch. But Ford has been building marketing momentum guiding Mach-E for a although. Even though rotten for the environment, 2020 has been a excellent yr for Ford advertising and marketing general, supplied the introduction of a considerably overhauled F-150, the launch of the all-new Ford Bronco off-roader, and the constructing of anticipation for an electric Mustang that has created enjoyment even amongst several die-challenging supporters of the typical gasoline-driven automobile.

“Electri-Vacation” stemmed from Ford’s consideration of how to get Mach-E some fourth-quarter notice by American individuals amid a vacation year hectic with all the standard routines, and haunted by the pandemic.

“Our concept for this,” VanDyke stated, “was about how to make a statement for the brand and have some exciting and catch the attention of the focus of folks who may possibly not be wanting for the following car or truck professional.” Ford’s new CEO and its former chief advertising and marketing officer, Jim Farley, extra to the momentum, VanDyke stated, by suggesting that the advertisement “tap into drinking water-cooler discuss and excitement.”

What far better way to do that, VanDyke explained, than to “look at media houses and factors that transpire usually all through the holidays”? Amongst them are “family and close friends and downtime and traditional, iconic videos, and Xmas Vacation was a single of these.

“Then we imagined, how could we publish the electric power snafu in a way to make Mach-E the hero? It arrived collectively.”

Ford wouldn’t have flipped the switch on the “Electri-Vacation” creative, VanDyke stated, without having the availability of Chase and D’Angelo. Chase, of study course, also famously was a single of the unique cast members of Saturday Night time Dwell, whose pratfalling will take on then-President Gerald Ford despatched his vocation into orbit. In “Electri-Trip,” the other, developed-up versions of the family’s people are new actors.

(Alas, there’s no Randy Quaid coming back again as “Cousin Eddie”: He could have stolen the display even from the new Mustang.)

VanDyke expects Mach-E to continue on getting consideration in the coming weeks as it moves into Ford showrooms and on to precise American driveways, not just the Griswolds’. An all-electric Mustang is a dramatic way for Ford to make excitement around not just a one merchandise but also around its solution to the foreseeable future of automotive transportation.

Fortuitously, VanDyke reported, Ford has not attempted to swap the basic ICE-run Mustang with the new battery-driven edition. Consequently, even users of the Mustang Club of The us and other “hardcore Mustang enthusiasts” have embraced the new model on early reveals and exam drives. When glad Mach-E won’t supplant their beloved vintage athletics motor vehicle, he said, they take pleasure in that “they can get their two children to soccer apply on the weekend” in Mach-E — back again-seat room has constantly been at a premium in Mustang versions.

“Once they’re in it, they see that Mach-E is flexible and functional and enjoyable to generate and however awesome, nevertheless Mustang.”