Will Ferrell has picked a fight with Norway in GM's new Super Bowl commercial. Photo: GM

Press release - 8 February 2021 13:50

EVs, pizzas, Olafs and sweaters. Will Ferrell has been pretty obsessed with Norway lately. Visit Norway helps him with directions and a thing or two about the country

"No way, Norway". In the week leading into the Super Bowl, and during the big event itself, General Motors has released teasers and commercials in the US, showing actor and comedian Will Ferrell apparently "hating" Norway with all the Olafs, vikings, mackerel, skiing and year-round sweater weather.

The American actor and comedian even went as far as stating that he wanted "to punch Norway in the face" on behalf of America, and came up with a prank ordering 5 million pizzas with anchovies to be delivered to the Norwegian people. This prompted a reaction from Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg on Twitter, who posted a video showing her eating a pizza at the office.

Visit Norway quickly joined the "pizza war" and delivered a pizza with anchovies to Will Ferrell, who looks quite happy in this photo.

The reason for Will Ferrell's obsession with Norway has to do with EVs and to the fact that in 2020 the Nordic country became the first country in the world where the sale of electric cars has overtaken those powered by petrol, diesel and hybrid engines. Ferrell teams up with Kenan Thompson and Awkwafina to journey to Norway in an effort to give the country a piece of his mind when it comes to its wild adoption of electric cars.

The commercial ends with Will Ferrell thinking of being in Norway after a bit of a journey acresso the ocean, only discovering to be in Sweden instead. In the commercial you can see some images from Norway anyway, and in particular of charming Kragerø (Telemark), even though some high mountains have been added to the real landscape of the Norwegian coastal town.

Super Bowl commercial time is the most expensive televised ad time in the history of marketing, and this year’s limited in-person attendance at the event makes it even more important for brands to announce big reveals. It's fun to see Norway being mentioned for its achievements when it comes to the diffusion of electric cars in the country.

We certainly hope that Will Ferrell's Norway obsession can quickly become a long-lasting friendship in spite of (or is it thanks to?) his Swedish connections. Here are some other reasons that might keep Will obsessed with Norway for a while, beyond vikings, sweaters and pizzas, of course. Perhaps we will be able to win him over?

Thanks to Norway’s abundance of clean energy, highly advanced process industry and ambitious electric vehicle policy, 2020 has been a game changer for the Norwegian battery industry.
Zeabuz, a Norwegian company is developing zero-emission autonomous ferries for public transport in cities.
C40 Cities, the global network of cities committed to bold climate action, has recently opened a new office in Oslo, to drive forward progress in clean construction and innovative mechanisms of climate governance. Oslo is the chair of C40’s Clean Construction Forum and will share its work on climate budgeting from the C40 Office in Oslo.
When it will be possible to travel again, you can embark on an epic road trip in Norway with an electric car (or even an electric bike), whether it is a rental or your own. There are more than 16.000 charging stations across Norway, and the number is rising. You can easily rent an electric car from most rental companies. In Geiranger and Flåm, the company eMobility has even set up a rental service for a car/scooter hybrid with two seats and open sides. Perfect for environmental-friendly sightseeing!
Several Norwegian destinations strive to improve their environmental impact and are part of the sustainability scheme Sustainable Destination, which focuses on developing more responsible tourism across the country, stressing the values of both the local culture and the local community. Norwegian destinations aim to be great places to live in and to visit.
It's not only about tech, though. Friluftsliv has become a buzzword in the past months as the concept of "outdoor living" has been covered by many international media. Experts even state that this typical Norwegian lifestyle and the "Arctic mindset" can help coping with winter and with the ongoing pandemic. In Norway you can easily use your own muscle power and go hiking, cycling, skiing, climbing or kayaking, or simply enjoy a walk in the woods to re-energize.
And it's not all about pizza in Norway, Will, even though we love a slice or two here. In Norway you can discover fresh local delicacies or enjoy delicious (and sometimes quirky) food. More and more Norwegian restaurants go sustainable, and the majority offer exquisite vegetarian dishes. Himkok, a bar in Oslo was awarded “world's most sustainable bar” in 2018, and Credo restaurant in Trondheim received the very first Michelin Nordic Guide Sustainability Award in 2019. Not to mention Rest, a unique restaurant in Oslo that turns leftovers into world-class gourmet meals. And let's not forget Under restaurant. The world’s largest underwater restaurant opened in 2019 and got a Michelin star in 2020. Under offers a stunning culinary experience under the sea. This unique restaurant is located in Lindesnes, in the Southernmost part of Norway, and was designed by Snøhetta.

We hope that Will Ferrell will finally make it to Norway. Visit Norway thought that he might need some help with directions from a bunch of local fans, as he seems to be struggling a bit with geography.

NORWEGIAN EV NUMBERS FOR 2020

Number of electric cars: 346,921
Per cent of electric cars: 12,06

Number of plug-in hybrids: 142,858
Per cent of plug in-hybrids: 5,11

Charging stations: almost 17,000
Fast chargers: more than 3,300

Source: elbil.no

Find charging stations at ladestasjoner.no (only in Norwegian at the moment) and get general EV information on elbil.no to plan your journey when it will be possible to travel again.