Kia trolls Tesla with scathing Elon Musk callout

(Image credit: KIA Norway)

Kia recently launched a bold campaign criticising Tesla's controversial CEO, Elon Musk. The brazen ad features a sticker that reads "I bought this after Elon went crazy,” pasted on the rear bumper of its EV3 model in a cheeky dig that illuminates Kia as a reliable alternative.

From its infamous overlord to its multiple Cybertruck design fails, Tesla has transformed from an electric vehicle pioneer to a highly divisive brand. With Musk becoming an increasingly contentious figure in the public eye, Kia's callout makes crafty use of viral controversy, suggesting that Musk's actions could be Tesla's final nail in the coffin.

clevercomebacks from r/clevercomebacks/comments/1j7l02r/norways_official_kia_account_posted_this_picture

The now-deleted post was shared to the Kia Norway Instagram account, garnering a mass outpouring of backlash from Musk fans. Catching the attention of the wider Kia Corporation, the ad was swiftly removed by the South Korean company with a spokesperson telling AFP "The post was an entirely independent local initiative that does not reflect the position of Kia Europe or Kia Corporation.”

While the original post received strong criticism, over on Reddit some users saw the funny side. "More automakers need to be capitalizing on Tesla's collapse like this," one Redditor wrote on the r/electriccars subreddit. Some even thought the ad was too tame, with another Redditor on the r/clevercomebacks subreddit writing "Very polite, too polite. I sold my Tesla and bought this to spite Elon would be my message."

For more news from the car branding world, take a look at Volvo's shocking AI advert that received major backlash from fans. If you're after more car design news, check out the best car logos on the road today.

TOPICS

Natalie Fear is Creative Bloq's staff writer. With an eye for trending topics and a passion for internet culture, she brings you the latest in art and design news. Natalie also runs Creative Bloq’s Day in the Life series, spotlighting diverse talent across the creative industries. Outside of work, she loves all things literature and music (although she’s partial to a spot of TikTok brain rot).

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.