Getting into the mindset of the kids to convince their parents to buy something is a non-traditional marketing approach but it has its way of generating interest and sales as much as video games do to movies, TV shows, and merchandise.
And it seems like Tesla Motors has recognized the potential of such non-traditional marketing strategy to help promote and contribute in boosting the sales of its Tesla Model S sedan by recently tying up with a major toy company.
Both Tesla and Hot Wheels, the toy car line of Mattel, announced on June 18 that Hot Wheels has launched the Hot Wheels Model S, which was a miniature replica of the Tesla Model S.
So if fans of the Tesla Model S can’t cough up the $105,000 retail price for the electric-powered sedan from Tesla Corporation, they can always settle for its miniature counterpart from Hot Wheels which is just 1/64th of the size of the real deal. The good news is that fans can only get it for a dollar more or less, details CNN Money.
Previous to launching its Hot Wheels Model S, the toy car company has already released a version of the Tesla Roadster, the first electric car developed by Tesla that was in production from 2008 to 2012 until the Tesla Model S came along.
The Tesla Model S is a critically-acclaimed, electric-powered, dual-motor, all-wheel drive luxury sedan launched by Tesla Corporation two years ago.
Matchbox, the other toy car line, which is also owned by Mattel, also unravelled a Tesla Model S version of a miniature car that is of similar size with the Hot Wheels variant.
Tesla Corporation also expressed excitement for the release of the toy car version of its Tesla Model S from Hot Wheels as its tweet said that they, referring to the company and Hot Wheels, are launching the Model S for the little ones, which they also consider as their biggest fans.
Hands-free driving
Meanwhile, Elon Musk, CEO of electric car manufacturer Tesla Corporation, disclosed during the company’s annual shareholders’ meeting on June 9 that some owners of the Tesla Model S will have the opportunity to test hands-free driving by the end of June.
He said that the testing phase is meant to ensure that auto-pilot cars from Telsa will also become road ready soon.
Musk spoke before a jampacked shareholders meeting at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California where he discussed in detail the potentials for robotic cars. He said the first phase of auto-pilot development requires that drivers need to be fully alert and should always be ready to take over the driving anytime.
He explained that the auto-pilot feature is meant to alleviate part of the burden of driving from the driver but not totally replace him. The Tesla CEO said that the feature would still be legal because the driver would remain responsible for the control of the car and that he will remain in the driver’s seat, clarifying that it is not an abdication of responsibility for steering.