This is another fallacy. Or rather, it's one way that advertising can work, but it's not the only way. Elon disliking sleazy/deceptive/appeal-solely-to-emotion ads that he sees for other brands does not imply that Tesla must follow that path.
Name a well-known product/company that advertises any other way. As in not in a deceptive way of any kind. Just tells the unabashed truth about their great product and great pricing. Take your time.
Of course Tesla can advertise in a way they feel is honest. It doesn’t for a second mean they’ll be believed.
For instance, raise your hand if you felt Tesla was being even a teeny, tiny bit sleazy with the way they listed the cost of their vehicles with potential cost savings pricing first and the actual purchase price today lower down the page.
BTW, I was fine with that because 1) I understood the reasons for doing it that way, though many people right off the bat jumped to a conclusion of them being purposely deceptive (Gee, I wonder why? Perhaps since nobody on the planet has ever seen a car advertised at the price they’ll be paying - there’s always additional charges and/or restrictions/eligibility nobody ever meets...) and 2) even if I believed they were purposely trying to deceive, I’ve been trained by advertisers since I saw my first Cocoa Puffs commercial to not believe what I hear/see at first glance but rather to listen closely and to read the fine print to find the truth.
Like cars salesmen are universally thought to be slimy, so is advertising because...it is.
Clean diesel?
Athletes endorsing products like Coke/Pepsi/Poptarts/etc... A myriad of prepared frozen foods full of chemicals, a perfect afternoon snack for your kids, or for that busy Mom who doesn’t have time to cook? Designer clothing/shoe brands made in third world countries because labor is cheap? Ambulance chasers - Smith, Smith & Jones when you’ve been in an accident? The latest FDA approved drug with a list of 63 horrific side effects in small print at the bottom of your TV screen, while some baritone voice races through the list so fast you manage to only catch may cause heart attacks or projectile vomiting. Followed by that next commercial, ‘If you’ve been a victim of talcum powder poisoning call 1-888-HELPNOW.
Nobody who believes the FUD about Tesla right now is going to be convinced otherwise by some advertising no matter how honest it is. They just aren’t.
Correct information has to come from people the FUD believers know, trust and respect. Certainly having some informational webpages that one can link to with hard data can’t hurt.
Tesla has done those other things you mentioned but as you well know, understaffed, overworked and needing to stay within a tight budget all the while doing everything in their power to save us. Enough with requiring them to do even more. When they can, they will. When they need to, they will.
