Why @elonmusk’s CoViD rant was a brilliant marketing move (follow me on a little multi-tweet explanation): 1.) Elon is about to announce a new Terafactory likely in Texas (definitely middle America); 2.) Elon is preparing to launch a high volume “blue collar” vehicle competitor..

The Cybertruck!; 3.) The predominant customers for that truck are very loyal to Ford, GM, and Dodge and consider them lifestyle vehicles that resonate with their values; 4.) Much of that market lives in more conservative states with broad libertarian social narratives;...

5.) This is a very foreign market to @Tesla, and is a market that has not embraced electric vehicles and wouldn’t buy them for the same reasons as #Tesla’s traditional market; 6.) Gaining appeal/legitimacy in this market would require a major overture act of common values;...

7.) To truly appeal and WIN in this segment the vehicle, company, and CEO would have to appear to champion polar resonant values with that market’s base; 8.) Conveniently, those conservative states are less cozy to the idea of shutting down the economy to social distance;...

9.) Many of the folks who are protesting and marching against the lockdown likely drive legacy pickup trucks; 10.) Elon just became their totem and champion; 11.) Tesla just became the true American heartland vehicle manufacturer; 12.) Elon already had the eco-liberals on lock;..

13.) Elon also knows that we have never in history created a vaccine for a CoronaVirus; that the fastest we have ever created a much needed vaccine was in 4 years; that the WHO is saying that having anti-bodies may not mean immunity meaning herd immunity may not be a thing...

14.) So Elon recognizes the rock and hard spot that the science community is between right now. He likely sees that there’s no science rescue coming and if there’s no herd immunity then all that’s left is herd apathy, herd acceptance, herd submission, or herd rebellion...

15.) Elon probably sees there’s really no downside for him in taking this stance as he’s not gonna lose anyone that’s ever driven a Tesla, or passionate environmentalists, doesn’t care to win or keep liberal fans just for the sake of it, & can only gain new market share. #Genius

This is why @elonmusk is brilliant. He understands zeitgeist and how to tap in to it. Politics is simply a tool to be leveraged. @pakpakchicken @stevenmarkryan @Kristennetten @thirdrowtesla @Gfilche @jpr007 @psidart @TeslaPodcast @JosephVVallace

This is the end of the thread... I hope you found it interesting and compelling.

(Some bonus thoughts) Did @elonmusk and @Tesla just become the “Don’t Tread On Me” auto company? Any remaining doubt about them selling vehicles (trucks) from their new mid-America Terafactory?

For anyone curious about CoronaVirus herd immunity (or find my herd immunity claims dubious), I would direct you to the following Smithsonian page: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/can-you-become-immune-sars-cov-2-180974532/

Specifically this little excerpt:

I’d like to point out that even if Elon happened to just go on a non-planned impassioned rant (which I doubt considering his well timed Tweets the day of), the marketing results and benefits are the same... but I’d prefer to think Elon is smarter than that.

I consider his rant having a similar marketing effect to the Cybertruck window break moment.

In case you had any doubts:

Pretty soon @elonmusk will be wearing a cowboy hat like his brother @kimbal

And his hit single “Don’t Doubt Your Vibe” followup will be a banging Country song about how his GF Grimes is mad at him.

Don’t doubt @elonmusk’s vibe folks.

I think this is a great description/distillation of the marketing themes Elon is addressing. Ultimately, he is building a “man of the people, for the people” narrative. https://twitter.com/xiang_aw/status/1256579078754144256?s=21 https://twitter.com/xiang_aw/status/1256579078754144256

And I think the following tweet is key evidence to the 2nd theme highlighted above, AND to the overall “man of and for the people” theme: https://twitter.com/thirdrowtesla/status/1256442289196417024?s=21 https://twitter.com/thirdrowtesla/status/1256442289196417024

But, if you’re a long term $TSLA investor, this is what you should be most focused on... not all the other noise: https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1256339169598562306?s=21 https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1256339169598562306

We shouldn’t be asking whether what @elonmusk said/tweeted was right or wrong. It all might be kind of both. We should instead be asking whether it will position his companies ( @Tesla) to accomplish their mission and impact the world better in the long run, not the short run.